North Carolina Adds Javier Sossa to Coaching Staff

Photo Courtesy: UNC Athletics

North Carolina Adds Javier Sossa to Coaching Staff

The University of North Carolina has hired Javier Sossa as an assistant swimming coach, the school announced Thursday.

The Colombian arrives in Chapel Hill after three years as a coach with Team Elite Aquatics in San Diego, working with David Marsh. Sossa mentored nine Olympians at the 2020 Tokyo Games, five of whom qualified for finals, as well as multiple medalists at FINA World Championships and European Championships.

“I would like to thank Senior Associate Athletic Director Clint Gwaltney and head coach Mark Gangloff for the opportunity to be part of Carolina,” Sossa said in a UNC press release. “I am honored and excited to be part of such a distinguished institution with outstanding traditions of excellence both in the classrooms and the pool. I look forward to bringing my International and Olympic experiences to continue to elevate the Tar Heels.”

Among his top pupils is Anastasia Gorbenko, who became Israel’s first world championship swimmer in 2021. He also helped guide Marius Kusch’s development.

Sossa also worked with Marsh in the International Swimming League, first as a home coach for L.A. Current in 2019-20 and then was an assistant with the D.C. Trident in 2021.

“Javier is a creative and innovative coach that has had success coaching at the highest echelons of our sport,” UNC coach Mark Gangloff said. “He’s been mentored by some of the world’s greatest coaches and has experience coaching many professional and Olympic athletes. We are fortunate to have found a coach with a huge international network and Olympic-level experience that we will integrate into the great things happening here at Carolina.”

Sossa was a standout swimmer at Oklahoma Baptist University, leading the Bison to four NAIA national championships before graduating in 2015. He worked as an assistant at his alma mater for four years and an interim head coach for five months in 2019 before leaving for California and Team Elite. He helped OBU transition from NAIA to Division II.

Sossa replaces Allyson Sweeney, who left in September to become the head coach at Georgia Southern.

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