Ben Keast has been named Director of Swimming and Head Coach of Island Swimming Club (ISC). Keast starts September 12, 2015.

Keast will join Island Swimming after returning from Singapore where he will be one of Team Canada’s coaches at the 2015 FINA Junior World Championships. After seven years with the Winskill Dolphins, including five as their Head Coach, Keast will assume the leadership of Island Swimming, building on the legacy of the late Randy Bennett, who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year.

“The ISC Board is thrilled Ben has accepted the role of Director of Swimming and is confident in his vision for the Club,” states Danielle Burton, President of Island Swimming Club. “We are proud of our 100-year tradition of preparing swimmers for success in the pool and beyond, and we embark on this new era with excitement and focus.

Keast brings over a decade of coaching experience that includes putting swimmers on the Pan Am Games this summer as well as Junior Pan Pacs and Para Pan Pacs in 2014 and Junior Worlds and Canada Games in 2013.

“I am truly honored to join the Island Swimming family,” stated Keast. “I share the values and vision of this team. I am inspired by the will and determination of its membership and have long admired its legacy, its leaders, and its traditions. I hope to contribute to the continued success of Island Swimming in the seasons to come.”

Keast and his team of coaches will look to implement this season’s ISC Long Term Athlete Development Plan across all of its programs at its facilities in Saanich, Sooke and the Westshore. He will also focus on the relationship with the SNC High Performance Centre – Victoria and its Head Coach, Ryan Mallette.

For more information, please contact:

Ben Keast Ben.keast@islandswimming.com
Jody Kitts Vice President, Island Swimming Club vicepresident@islandswimming.com