FAIRBANKS, Alaska – On Monday, Alaska Nanooks swimming head coach Becca Weiland officially announced the addition of Kelsey Leeson, who will serve as the program's assistant coach. Leeson's first official day at the Patty Center will be Thursday, Aug. 1.

Leeson, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, becomes Weiland's first assistant coaching hire since joining the program as Scott Lemley's associate head coach in the summer of 2018.

"Kelsey's attributes and credentials stood out to the hiring committee very early in the hiring process, and I am beyond excited to add her to our staff," Weiland said on Monday. "She was a key student-athlete and leader in her collegiate years at St. Cloud State University and we look to take full advantage of her experience. Kelsey's passion, leadership and caring demeanor fall perfectly in line with my vision for the future of the Nanook swimming program." 

Leeson comes to the Nanooks after serving as the head swim coach for the Juan Diego Catholic High School and the Summit Academy High School teams in Utah. This past season, the JDHS boys swim team was named the 2019 Region IX Champions with multiple swimmers qualifying for the state championship. Furthermore, Leeson oversaw 15 swimmers who placed within the top-16 individually and boasted one individual state champion.

Prior to coaching, Leeson was a four-year member of the St. Cloud State University women's swim team from 2012-16, with Weiland serving as the team's assistant coach from 2015-17. Most notably a freestyle swimmer, Leeson competed individually in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle events, while also swimming in the 200- and 400-yard medley relays and also the 200-, 400- and 800-yard freestyle relay events.

While with the Huskies, Leeson was a three-time NCAA Swimming and Diving National Championship qualifier, earning All-America status twice in the 200 medley relay (2013, 2015), while also earning All-America Honorable Mention honors in the 200-yard freestyle relay (2013), the 400-yard medley relay (2014, 2015) and the 200-yard medley relay (2014).

Additionally, Leeson is an eight-time individual Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champion in five different events, earning the team title in both 2013 and 2014 with the Huskies. Leeson also placed within the top-eight 15 times in eight different events. She still holds the school record in the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard medley relay.

In the classroom, Leeson was a NSISC Academic All-American in 2015 and earned the NCAA Continuation Scholarship following her senior season in 2016. Leeson graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in biomedical studies with a minor in psychology from St. Cloud State University in 2017.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks swim team, follow @NanooksSwim on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Swimming team page on Facebook.