Missouri State

Email: DavidCollins@MissouriState.edu
Twitter: @MoStateSwim

A former Missouri State assistant, Collins has served as the head coach of the Bears’ swimming & diving program since 2012.

In 2024-25, Collins maneuvered the men's team's transition back to the Missouri Valley Conference after 15 years in the Mid-American Conference, unifying both men's and women's teams under the same conference banner for the first time since 2023. Collins maintained a strong culture of winning and success with a handful of conference and pool record being broken. Senior Reese Hodgins broke the Hammons Student Center Pool record in the 200-yard freestyle (1:36.94) on Oct. 25, 2024. Sophomore Matvei Chesakov broke the pool record in the 50-yard freestyle (20.17) on Nov. 1, 2024 and later beat his own program record with a 19.71 time on Feb. 20, 2025. Sophomore Lindsey Hervey broke the pool record in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:57.28) on Jan. 25, 2024. The men's team opened the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championships by resetting the MVC record in the 800-yard freestyle relay (6:24.61). The Bears returned to the House of Champions Invitational hosted by IU Indy for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Collins led both the men's and women's teams to second-place finishes at the three-day meet. Collins brought in a strong recruiting class this season headlined by three-time MVC Freshman of the Week Gonzalo Ruiz. Collins also saw the decorated careers of Cabrini Johnson and Samantha Roemer come to an end after the two combined for 29 career conference medals across their five seasons with the program. Johnson also set the school record in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.40) on Oct. 25, 2024. Seven men and three women were named to the All-MVC first team, while eight women and five men were All-MVC honorable mentions.

The 2023-24 season continued the success that the Bears are used to. Collins earned a Missouri Valley Conference record 12th women's swimming & diving championship and the program's eighth in a row with a record points total of 1,463.5 points. It also marked Missouri State's 20th title in 22 years. He saw 12 Bears earn All-MVC First Team honors as well as five honorable mentions. Collins was also named MVC Swimming Coach of the Year for the fifth straight season and eighth time overall. Collins oversaw multiple conference records being broken in 2023-24. Lily DeSpain set the new pace in the 400 IM (4:14.92) and won five MVC gold medals en route to being named MVC Swimming & Diving Student-Athlete of the Year. Cabrini Johnson also set the program record in the 100-yard breast (1:00.37) to win MVC gold in the event. The Bears broken a few MVC records in relay events as well, such as the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:18.87), 800-yard freestyle relay (7:12.19) and 400-yard medley relay (3:37.10). Prior to the conference championship, Collins led the women's team to winning the UIC/NCC Invitational at FMC Natatorium near Chicago. On the men's side, Collins lead the Bears to a third runner-up finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships in the last four years. Four MSU men were named to the All-MAC first team and three made the All-MAC second team. Freshman newcomer Matvei Chesakov set a program record in the 50-yard freestyle (19.87) to win MAC silver in the event.

During the 2022-23 campaign, Collins lead the women's swimming and diving program to its seventh-consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Women's Swimming Championship. This was Collin's 11th title as head coach and MSU's 19th in the past 21 years. Under his direction, the Bears landed First-Team All-MVC honors in 14 out of 20 events as well as three honorable mentions alongside Kelly Sego earning the Elite 17 Award. As a result, Collins was named MVC Swimming Coach of the Year. Also on the women's side, Yuliya Zubina broke the MSU and MVC record in the 100 breast (1:00.66 on Nov. 4), while the squad of Sego, Yuliya Zubina, Sami Roemer and Jordan Wenner set the MSU and MVC record in the 400 medley relay (3:38.80 on Nov. 4). At the Mid-American Men's Swimming and Diving Championships, the men's club finished second. Under Collins, four MSU men were selected to the All-MAC first team, while Tyler Lewis was named the MAC Co-Outstanding Senior. MoState's runner-up performance in the MAC Championships was the program's sixth all-time, all under Collins.

In 2021-22, Collins helped lead the women's swimming and diving program to their six-straight MVC Women's Swimming Championship and 18th in the past 20 years which is the best mark among all NCAA Division I programs. Libby Howell was named MVC Swimmer of the year while Anna Miller became the first MSU women's swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships. On the men's side the Bears posted a third-pace finish at the MAC Championships while Dylan Moffatt was named 2022 MAC Swimmer of the Year.

The Bears were impressive in an abbreviated 2020-2021 campaign due to COVID-19. Earning their fifth-straight Valley title and 18th overall, the MSU women dominated the MVC Championships, winning seven individual and five relay events to finish with 929.50 points. Collins was named coach of the year and senior Anna Miller took home Swimmer of the Year honors after recording three individual wins in record-breaking fashion. Libby Howell and Miller posted NCAA qualifying times and Ashley Yarbrough and Dayana Popa both earned zone-cuts on the boards. The MSU men placed second at the MAC Championships, claiming four individual wins and one realy win over the course of the meet. Standout senior Michael Claunch was recognized as the MAC’s Co-Swimmer of the Year and Most Outstanding Senior. Claunch earned his third zone-cut on both the 1-and-3-meter boards. Collins and his staff earned multiple MVC Coach of the Year honors.

The Bears completed an unforgettable 2019-20 campaign, sweeping the MVC and MAC Championships. Earning their fourth-straight Valley title and 16th overall, the MSU women ran away with the crown after winning seven individual and three relay events to finish with 826.50 points. The MSU men were equally dominant at the MAC Championships, claiming 10 conference champion citations over the course of the meet. Standout senior Antonio Thomas was recognized as the MAC’s Co-Swimmer of the Year and Most Outstanding Senior. Michael Claunch earned his second trip to the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships to represent the Bears on the 1-and-3 meter boards. Collins and his staff earned multiple distinctions, bringing home both MVC and MAC Coach of the Year honors.

Missouri State continued its success in the 2018-19 season, highlighted by a MVC three-peat and another appearance on the national stage at the NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. The MSU women were crowned Valley champions for the third-straight season, totaling 759 points through the four-day event. At the conclusion of the meet, Alex Thorson was named Freshman Swimmer of the Year, marking the second year in a row the Bears took home the honor. The men’s season ended as runner-ups in the MAC Championships, but newcomer Pawel Krawczyk earned Freshman Swimmer of the Year laurels while seasoned veteran Artur Osvath add Most Outstanding Senior to his extensive resume. Blair Bish and Artur Osvath made return trips to the NCAA stage, where Bish garnered the highest individual placement in program history with a 10th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. Diving also represented the Bears in the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships with impressive performances from Ashley Yarbrough and Michael Claunch. 

Collins captained a lights-out season for the Bears in 2017-18, bringing home MVC and MAC Championships. The MSU women repeated as champions after winning sweeping the meet’s relays and winning nine individual events. The Bears clinched its 14th MVC crown with 799 points and placed 10 Bears on the All-MVC First team. Captain Sydney Zupan was honored as the 2018 MVC Swimmer of the Year, Libby Howell was recognized as the league’s Freshman Swimmer of the Year and Ashley Yarbrough garnered Freshman Diver of the Year laurels. Returning to the MAC Championships with a vengeance, the men’s squad was dominant through four full days and brought home its 20th conference title. The crew tallied 857.5 points and won 10 events over the course of the meet. MSU placed eight swimmers on the All-MAC First Team and Collins repeated as the MAC Coach of the Year. Standout Artur Osvath was named the 2018 MAC Co-Outstanding Swimmer of the Year and Christopher Heye was honored as the 2018 MAC Outstanding Senior. Collins produced the program’s 11th swimmer to reach the NCAA stage, Blair Bish, marking the sixth consecutive season MSU has reached the national meet. 

Leading one of the most successful seasons in program history, Collins coached the Bears back into the spotlight thanks to incredible individual and team performances throughout the entirety of the 2016-17 campaign. After falling by half a point at last year’s conference championship meet, Collins led the women’s squad to its 13th conference crown in a 832.5-point, landslide victory. Under Collins’ direction, the Bears took home seven conference titles and Lauren Pavel was named the MVC Swimmer of the Year. The men’s season ended in a second-place conference finish in the MAC as the Bears fell by just a single point after the final race of the championship meet. The Bears earned six conference titles and newcomer Antonio Thomas was dubbed the MAC Freshman Swimmer of the Year. Collins swept Coach of the Year honors, earning his third award in both the MVC and MAC. 

Returning back to the NCAA Championships, Collins coached sophomore All-American Artur Osvath as well as freshman Antonio Thomas – marking the fifth consecutive year a Bear has made it to the national meet. Becoming the second All-American in program history, Osvath placed 15th in the nation in the 200 breast with a new personal and program record. The Hungary native competed in the 100 breast as well, placing 39th in the event. Thomas competed valiantly, earning appearances in the 500 and 1000 free. 

Missouri State continued its trend of participating and appearing at the national level during the 2015-16 season. Collins coached freshman Artur Osvath at the NCAA Championships, the fourth consecutive year an MSU swimmer has made it to the national stage, which is the longest stretch during the program’s Division I history. Osvath eventually placed a personal-best 17th in the 200 breast, the second-highest finish at the NCAA Championships in school history. 

Collins also helped guide the MSU squads to achievements in and out of the water during the 2015-16 season. While the Bears’ women’s team fell just a half a point from winning its ninth straight Missouri Valley Conference championship, seven NCAA consideration times were obtained and Dora Kiss continued the Bears’ grip on the MVC Swimmer of the Year, earning the award her second time while an MSU swimmer was honored for a sixth straight occurrence. The men’s team also had several noteworthy performances, with seniors Uvis Kalnins and Miguel Davila earning three-peats in events at the Mid-American Conference Championships. Kalnins was named the MAC Outstanding Senior of the Year for his performance throughout the season and the squad captured 23 NCAA consideration times. 

In all, the Bears have broken 35 of a possible 42 combined individual and relay program records during Collins’ tenure as head of the Missouri State men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs. MSU also continues to be recognized by the College Swimming Coaches Association for its academic success. Last season, both the men's and women's team were selected as Scholar All-America Teams by the CSCAA.

The Bears’ rise to prominence at the national level didn’t slow down in 2014-15, with Missouri State making its biggest splash at the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship by sending a school-record three student-athletes to the meet. Paul Le and Uvis Kalnins made their third and second trips to the NCAA’s, respectively, while senior Garrett Nevels became the first Missouri State diver in 25 years to qualify to compete at the national level.

Collins’ squad also found just as much success at the conference level. Despite a runner-up finish by a mere 20 points at Mid-American Conference Championships on the men’s side, the Bears won 11 of the 20 events and broke eight school records in the span of four days. The Bears also continued their success on the women’s side under Collins’ watch. Winning nine of 20 events and taking seven of the top 14 spots in the final individual race -- the 200-yard IM -- Missouri State extended its Missouri Valley Conference championship streak to eight, tied for the second longest active streak in NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving with the University of Virginia.

The 2013-14 season proved to be one of the most memorable in Missouri State swimming and diving history, with both the men and women sweeping their respective conference titles. The men won their 19th conference championship in school history and their first as a member of the Mid-American Conference, while the women earned their seventh straight Missouri Valley Conference title and their 11th overall. Collins earned his second straight year of Coach of the Year honors from both the MVC and MAC. He also was the head coach of MAC Outstanding Diver Garrett Nevels, MAC Swimmer of the Year Uvis Kalnins and three-time MVC Swimmer of the Year Renata Sander.

Several school records were broken throughout the year, with Kalnins and Paul Le breaking previous milestones at the 2014 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas. The Bears were also recognized by Collegeswimming.com in February, receiving a No. 24 national ranking following a defeat of the No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes in a dual at the Shamrock Invitational.

In his first full season at the helm in 2012-13, Collins swept Coach of the Year honors, voted on by Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and Mid-American Conference (MAC) head coaches. The Bears won an unprecedented sixth straight title at the 2013 MVC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships in Carbondale, Ill. Altogether, Missouri State won 11 events and picked up five NCAA provisional times, while junior Renata Sander and freshman Dora Kiss shared co-MVC Swimmer of the Year accolades.

Meanwhile, the Missouri State men experienced a successful run during the 2012-13 campaign, capped off by the Bears’ first NCAA Championship appearance since 2005. Sophomore qualifier Paul Le became the first swimmer in school history to score points at NCAAs with a top-16 finish in the 200-yard backstroke, earning him Division I All-American honorable mention recognition. As a team, Missouri State recorded its highest finish (2nd) at a MAC Championship event, just six points away from unseating Eastern Michigan for the title. The men notched 12 NCAA `B’ cuts throughout the season and after a 23-year hiatus from the NCAA Division I Top 25, the Bears debuted at No. 23 in the season’s first poll.

Under Collins’ direction as interim head coach during the 2012 spring semester, the women won their fifth consecutive MVC championship and recorded the second-largest margin of victory in MSU history.

As head coach, Collins has coached 10 conference swimmers of the year, a list that includes Dora Kiss (2013, 16), Lauren Pavel (2015, 17), Renata Sander (2012-14), Sydney Zupan (2018), Anna Miller (2021), Libby Howell (2022), Uvis Kalnins (2014), Artur Osvath (2018), Antonio Thomas (2020) and Dylan Moffatt (2022).

Collins was named the fifth head coach at Missouri State on April 16, 2012, joining the likes of Jack Steck (1983-2011), Kent Kirchner (1982-83), Barry Hartwyk (1979-82) and Dale Williams (1965-79).

In addition to coaching duties and day-to-day operations, Collins has taken the Bears’ recruiting efforts to new heights. He and his coaching staff are responsible for signing Missouri State’s first top-100 recruit: 2012 Olympian Uvis Kalnins of Latvia. CollegeSwimming.com listed Kalnins as the No. 68 overall swimmer in the 2012 recruiting class.

In four years as an assistant under MSU Hall of Famer Jack Steck, Collins coached 26 Valley women's individual champions and 18 men's individual champions at the Sun Belt Conference and Mid-American Conference Championships. Other notable achievements as an assistant and associate head coach included four consecutive MVC titles and a Sun Belt title for the MSU men in 2008. At the 2009 MVC Championships, Collins' stroke group, led by Jordan Hawkins, Brianna Willoughby and Chelsea Dirks-Ham, combined for seven gold medals.

Since his arrival at Missouri State, the Bears have broken every men's and women's school record in the non-freestyle events.

During his stint as an MSU assistant, Collins simultaneously served as head coach for the Missouri State Aquatics club team, where he developed several Missouri Valley top-eight finishers, sectional qualifiers and produced the program's first junior national qualifier. Prior to Missouri State, Collins enjoyed stops as head swimming & diving coach for Springfield Parkview and Ozark High School.

As a student-athlete at Drury, Collins was an Academic All-American and specialized in the backstroke events. During his four-year career, the Panthers won a pair of NCAA Division II national titles (2003, 2005) and two national runner-up finishes (2002, 2004).

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Collins finished his undergraduate degree in design arts in 2005 and earned his master's degree in communications in 2007, both at Drury. He and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Annie and Addison.

Accolades

• 12-time MVC Women's Swimming & Diving Champion Head Coach 
• 8-time MVC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year (2012-13, 2013-14, 2016-17, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24) 
• 3-time MAC Men's Swimming & Diving Champion Head Coach
• 5-time MAC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year (2012-13, 2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2019-20)

Men's Finishes Under Collins