USA Swimming Announces Coaches for 2026 National Junior Team Camp

Experienced coaches Mike DeBoor and Kevin Zacher to lead the women's and men's camps, respectively.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:12pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, geometric representation of a swimming competition or training session, with overlapping planes of vibrant colors like blue, green, and red, conveying the dynamic energy and potential of the next generation of elite swimmers.The 2026 National Junior Team Camp coaches bring a wealth of experience and expertise to shape the future of competitive swimming.Scottsdale Today

USA Swimming has announced the coaching staff for the 2026 National Junior Team Camp, a significant development in the world of swimming. The women's camp will be led by Mike DeBoor, who has an impressive resume as the head coach at Lakeside Swim Team since 1994, earning numerous accolades including 15 Kentucky Swimming Senior Coach of the Year awards. The men's camp will be led by Kevin Zacher, who has a background in coaching at every level within the Scottsdale Aquatic Club and has earned the ASCA Arizona Coach of the Year award three times.

Why it matters

The announcement of the 2026 National Junior Team Camp coaches highlights the importance of experienced and dynamic coaching in shaping the future of the sport. DeBoor and Zacher's wealth of experience and proven track records of success make them ideal candidates to lead the camps and develop the next generation of elite swimmers.

The details

DeBoor has produced five U.S. Olympic athletes and placed 17 different swimmers on the USA Swimming National Team. Zacher's coaching has led to numerous swimmers claiming Olympic medals, setting U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming time standards, and achieving National Age Group records.

  • The 2026 National Junior Team Camp will take place later this year.

The players

Mike DeBoor

The head coach for the women's camp, DeBoor has been the head coach at Lakeside Swim Team since 1994 and has earned numerous accolades, including the Kentucky Swimming Senior Coach of the Year award 15 times.

Kevin Zacher

The head coach for the men's camp, Zacher has a background in coaching at every level within the Scottsdale Aquatic Club and has earned the ASCA Arizona Coach of the Year award three times.

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What they’re saying

“The announcement of the 2026 National Junior Team Camp coaches is a significant development in the world of swimming, particularly for the upcoming generations of athletes.”

— Jerrold Considine, Author

What’s next

The 2026 National Junior Team Camp will take place later this year, where DeBoor and Zacher will work to develop the next generation of elite swimmers.

The takeaway

The announcement of the 2026 National Junior Team Camp coaches highlights the importance of experienced and dynamic coaching in shaping the future of the sport. DeBoor and Zacher's proven track records of success make them ideal candidates to lead the camps and help develop the next generation of elite swimmers.