KEARNEY, Neb. — A former Division l swimmer with experience coaching in Florida will be the next swim and dive coach at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

UNK announced Tuesday that Kyle Trelka will take over as head coach in January. He replaces Becky O’Connell, who retired this fall. UNK didn’t announce her retirement at the time, but a spokesman says she stepped down about six weeks ago. Graduate Assistant Abraham Sala led the team in its last four competitions. O’Connell had been head coach since July 2018.

The Aqualopers season started in September and runs until the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships in mid-February.

"I am excited for Kyle to lead the women's swimming and diving programs,” UNK Athletic Director Marc Bauer said in a statement. “He set himself apart throughout the interview process, articulating his passion, competitive mindset, drive, and vision to positively impact our student-athletes experiences and ability to reach their full potential.”

A standout swimmer at Division I Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Trelka helped the Panthers win three straight Horizon League titles. A two-time co-captain, he was tabbed the team's Rookie of the Year in 2009 and was team MVP as a senior.

"I'm very blessed to have the opportunity to join the Lopers athletic staff and look forward to building on an already strong aquatics tradition and culture," said Trelka. "Being a lifelong competitive swimmer has given me plenty of insight and input into my training and meets. As a full-time coach the past nine years, I’ve been able to hone my coaching ideals and philosophy." 

Trelka has ties to Nebraska. He worked at the Cabela’s corporate office in Sidney before moving to Florida in 2015. He met his wife, Shari, in Nebraska and they have four children.

Most recently, he's been head swim & dive coach at Clearwater High School (2016-23), Calvary Christian High School (2021-23), co-head track & field coach at Clearwater H.S. (2021-23), and head coach, founder and CEO of Radiant Aquatics (2018-23). Radiant is a 501c3 not-for-profit team that has seven employees and operates year-round.  Previously, Trelka was head branch coach for Blue Wave/Trident Swimming (2016-18) and is a founding member of "Team Florida," an AAU club that coordinates with several teams in competing under one umbrella at the Junior Olympic Meet, which is held annually in July. 

UNK spent last weekend in Sioux Falls at the Augustana Invitational and will head to Iowa for the Pioneer Classic in early December.