King Athletics
Travis Chell
BRISTOL, Tenn. – James Graves has announced his resignation as King University’s head swimming coach.
Graves led the Tornado swimming teams for the last four years, building both programs as Conference Carolinas members. Over that time, the Tornado had six individuals account for eight conference championships and had more than 50 all-conference selections.
“Coach Graves has done an exceptional job leading our swimming programs the past four years,” director of athletics David Hicks said. “He embodies our institutional mission and provided strong Christian leadership for our student-athletes on a daily basis. He took our programs to new levels of success in the pool and I am thankful for his service and commitment to our student-athletes. I wish he and Chelsey nothing but the best in their new adventure.”
Graves led the Tornado men to back-to-back third place finishes at the Conference Carolinas Swimming Championships and the women registered their highest finish in program history of third. Both the men’s and women’s team won the Conference Carolinas Messick Sportsmanship awards each of the last two years.
“It has been an honor to represent King as the head swim coach over the last four years,” Graves said. “I have grown tremendously in my faith and have found purpose in serving God’s purpose in my life. The relationships that I have made with both my swimmers and co-workers will be the enduring memory for my time here at King. I with the University, athletic department, and the swim team all the best moving forward.”
Academically, the Tornado have earned College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America team honors six times over the last two years, along with numerous academic all-conference selections. Last season, the Tornado had the Conference Carolinas Elite 23 award winner, awarded for the highest GPA at the championship site.
King will immediately begin a national search for Graves’ replacement.