DURHAM – Dan Colella, head coach of the Duke University swimming and diving program, passed away on Friday at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer.
One of the most successful swimming and diving coaches in the country with over 38 years of coaching experience, Colella was a member of the Duke Athletics staff for nearly two decades. The fifth head coach in program history, Colella produced 64 All-Americans and 24 conference champions with the Blue Devils. During his tenure, Duke student-athletes competed in the NCAA Championships, the USA Swimming National Championships, Olympic Games, Olympic Trials, Pan American Games, Pan Pacific Games, World Championships, FINA World Championships and World University Games.