Juan Somoza is the head coach of the King University Tornado men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs. A former standout swimmer and record-holder for King, he returned to his alma mater in November 2022 to lead the programs.

Recent Seasons as Head Coach

• The Tornado made Conference Carolinas Championship appearances four times under Somoza, including a 4th-place finish and a 6th-place finish in 2024–25.
• During his tenure, King swimmers have achieved significant honors:
  Men: 4 Conference Carolinas champions, 11 All-Conference swims, 1 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 6 Academic All-Conference honorees, 4 Swimmer of the Week awards, and 4 CSC Academic All-District selections.
  Women: 4 All-Conference swims, 9 Academic All-Conference honorees, 1 Swimmer of the Week award, and 6 CSC Academic All-District selections.
• Both programs have produced CSCAA Scholar All-America Team awards. Somoza earned his first career win on January 20, 2023 (defeating Emory & Henry) with the men and January 28, 2023 (defeating Mars Hill) with the women.

Men’s Swimming

• 2023–24: Finished 5th at the Conference Carolinas Championships with a 6–6 overall record, the best mark of the Somoza era. The Tornado crowned two Conference Carolinas champions: Efe Ertuzun (400-yard IM) and Jean Ducastel (100-yard back and 200-yard back). Sam Osowiecki and Carson Eliasen earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.
• 2022–23: Finished 6th at the Conference Carolinas Championships. The team posted strong All-Conference performances in the 400-yard freestyle relay, 800-yard freestyle relay, and from Sam Osowiecki in the 1,000-yard freestyle. Dale Bruce was named Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the first in program history.

Women’s Swimming

• 2023–24: Finished 6th at the Conference Carolinas Championships. King recorded three dual wins, including a 53–42 victory over Lees-McRae. Katie Koenst earned All-Conference honors in the 400-yard IM. Abbie Erme, Gwen Haag, and Fanny Legros were named CSC Academic All-District honorees.
• 2022–23: Finished 5th at the Conference Carolinas Championships, led by Cassie Lowe’s three All-Conference performances (500-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, and 200-yard backstroke). Abbie Erme, Gwen Haag, and Michelle Morlock earned CSC Academic All-District honors.

Prior to King

After graduating from King, Somoza spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Delta State University while earning his master’s degree. During that time, Delta State produced five individual national champions, and both the men’s and women’s programs finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships in 2021.

Personal

Somoza graduated from King in three years with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Sport Management (2019) and earned his Master of Business Administration from Delta State University in 2021.

One of the most successful swimmers in King history, he broke 15 school records (individually and in relays), five of which still stood at graduation. His records in the 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard IM, and 200-yard IM remain program standards. Somoza was a five-time All-Conference Carolinas performer and won the 200-yard IM conference title in 2019.

Prior to King, he competed successfully in his native Mexico, appearing in five Mexican National Championships as well as Olympic and World Championship Trials qualifiers in 2015 and 2016.