Missouri State Promotes Chelsea Dirks-Ham, Adds Volunteer Justin Brousseau to Swimming Staff

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri, September 5. MISSOURI State swimming and diving finalized its coaching staff today by promoting Chelsea Dirks-Ham to the position of assistant, and adding Justin Brosseau as a volunteer assistant.

Dirks-Ham has previously served as a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant the last two years for the Bears. In her new position, she will take on recruiting duties as well as mentor the stroke groups.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to continue to contribute to the success of both the men’s and women’s programs at Missouri State,” Dirks-Ham said. “I have been fortunate to have great experiences at MSU as both an athlete and a grad assistant. Now, as a full-time coach I am eager to share those experiences and impact the student-athletes in a positive way.”

During her time with Missouri State, the Bears extended their conference winning streak to 10 years in the 200 medley, and have won eight of the last nine 400 medley relays. Last year, the women took down six school records in the events Dirks-Ham coached. Additionally, Dirks-Ham helped lead the Bears’ most prominent swimmer Paul Le to become the first NCAA qualifier in nearly a decade as he also became the first swimmer in school history to earn All-America recognition with a top-16 effort in the 200 back.

Dirks-Ham is developing a Missouri State pedigree that rivals the best coming out of the program. As a swimmer, she dominated at the conference level with four years straight as an all-conference first teamer.

Brosseau, meanwhile, moves over from Boise State. The 2007 Missouri State graduate had served as an associate head coach at Boise prior to last year, but wanted to come back home to develop his alma mater.

“I am thrilled to be back by family and friends in Springfield, and I am truly excited to be part of the Missouri State Bears,” said Brosseau,” Coach Collins and his staff have created an amazing atmosphere at MSU, and the student-athletes here are some of the most focused and professional I have come across. This program is quickly becoming one of the strongest mid-majors in the country, and I hope I can help that rise continue.”

During Brosseau’s time at Boise, the Broncos captured three straight conference titles spanning the Western Athletic and Mountain West Conferences. Last year, the Broncos made history to become the first Mountain West team ever to qualify a relay for NCAAs, where they finished 16th in the 200 free relay. Prior to his time with Boise, Brosseau also coached at Division II powerhouse Drury as a volunteer in 2008.

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