Ryan Lochte appointed to Missouri State swim team staff at a rate of $34 per hour

Ryan Lochte Joins Missouri State Swimming Program

Ryan Lochte, the celebrated American swimmer with six Olympic gold medals, is set to become part of the coaching staff at Missouri State University’s swimming program.

He’ll take on the role of assistant coach under head coach Dave Collins, starting later this summer. This follows the approval of his contract by the university’s Board of Trustees in June.

Details from his contract indicate that Lochte will earn approximately $30,000, along with potential bonuses. For example, he could earn $750 if a team wins a Missouri Valley Conference championship. There are also bonuses for individual qualifiers to the NCAA Championships, amounting to $500 each. Relay teams that qualify will receive the same bonus.

Interestingly, his pay rate is around $34.10 per hour, which aligns with the salaries of other assistant coaches in the program.

Collins expressed enthusiasm over adding a 12-time Olympic medalist like Lochte to the team, while Lochte emphasized the seriousness of his new role. “This is about helping young men and women build discipline, resilience, and confidence that will carry them beyond the pool,” he noted. “Having experienced the ups and downs of this sport myself, I hope to share that perspective to help them reach their full potential.”

Lochte is recognized as one of the most decorated swimmers ever and had a notable collegiate swimming career at the University of Florida from 2003 to 2007.

While his swimming accolades are impressive, his personal life also garners attention. In 2016, he became embroiled in a scandal during the Rio Olympics, where he falsely reported a robbery involving him and teammates, only for it to be revealed that they had vandalized a gas station restroom. This incident led to a 10-month suspension from USA Swimming.

Furthermore, in 2018, he received a 14-month suspension after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency found he had improperly received over 100 mL of intravenous vitamins within a 12-hour window. Lochte’s complicated personal life continues with a public dispute on social media involving his ex-wife, Kayla Rae Reid, and his current girlfriend, Molly Gillihan.