February 16, 2026 – The CSCAA is excited to announce that Wellesley Head Swimming and Diving Coach Dawn Dill has been named the recipient of the 2026 CSCAA Swim Across America Coach Academy Scholarship.
Dill returned to Wellesley as Head Coach in June 2024 after previously serving as an assistant coach for the Blue from 2018-2023. Dill spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach at Harvard University where in one season in Cambridge, she helped guide the Crimson to a 5-2 season record and a runner-up finish at the Ivy League Championships while seeing four student-athletes earn invitations to compete at the NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championships.
After stepping away from coaching for five years Dill expressed her excitement to learn at the Annual Meetings, “I have always loved mentoring younger coaches regarding establishing a program with a positive team culture and competitive drive. I would love to sharpen my skills and be able to use the knowledge with new assistant coaches”.
The Swim Across America CSCAA Coach Academy scholarship covers full registration for the CSCAA Annual Meetings, the Coach Academy program, and the prestigious Annual Awards Banquet. This initiative supports the development of collegiate swimming and diving coaches, fostering excellence and leadership in the sport. “We are proud to partner with CSCAA and support coaches like Dawn who are committed to continuous growth and to giving back,” said Craig Beardsley, VP of Partnerships at Swim Across America. “Volunteerism and leadership are at the heart of what we do at Swim Across America, and investing in coaches is one more way we can strengthen the future of collegiate swimming and diving.”
Sam Barany, Executive Director of the CSCAA, expressed her gratitude for the continued partnership between CSCAA and Swim Across America: “We are incredibly thankful to Swim Across America for their generosity and commitment to the coaching community. This scholarship reflects their dedication to collegiate swimming and diving and their recognition of the vital role coaches play in shaping athletes and teams”. Together, CSCAA and Swim Across America aims to empower the next generation of collegiate coaches and elevate the sport to new heights.
About CSCAA
The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) is dedicated to the advancement of the sport of swimming and diving, providing education, recognition, and professional development opportunities for coaches nationwide.
About Swim Across America
Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA) is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With the help of hundreds of volunteers nationwide and past and current Olympians, Swim Across America is helping find a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service. The organization has raised more than $125 million to make waves to fight cancer and has supported the funding of four FDA approved cancer immunotherapy treatments. To learn more, visit swimacrossamerica.org.
