Former Bethel Park swimmer hired at Tennessee

Sarah (Dunleavy) Collins is wearing orange again. The Bethel Park native has rejoined the Tennessee swimming and diving team as a full-time assistant coach.
Collins, who swam for the black and orange at Bethel Park High School, served as a volunteer assistant with Tennessee during the 2021-22 season. During her first stint at Tennessee, the Lady Vols won their second SEC championship in program history.
“We are incredibly fortunate to be able to bring a coach of Sarah’s experience, skills and ability into our team,” said Tennessee head coach Matt Kredich. “Sarah has great experience at a variety of levels and circumstances, and has been tremendously successful at every level of our sport.
“Sarah understands what it takes to drive and sustain an elite team culture, and resonates with the culture, history and vision of Tennessee swimming and diving. She was great in her volunteer role for us a couple of years ago, and I’m thrilled to bring her onboard full time.”
Collins is best known for the two years she served as an assistant coach at California.
From 2017-219, the Golden Bears finished second in each season at the NCAA Championships. They won five NCAA events and captured 15 Pac-12 Championship event titles. In 2019, Cal won four events at the NCAA Championship, including three of the five relay events. While at Cal, Collins coached All-American and Olympic medalist Abbey Weitzeil.
Prior to Cal, Collins enjoyed coaching success at Pitt (2016-17), Kentucky (2013-16) and Illinois State (2012-13). During her time, she coached programs that have produced NCAA title winners and headed recruiting efforts that resulted in signing some of the nation’s top classes.
“I’m thrilled to join the staff at Tennessee and to be back on pool deck,” Collins said. “It’s evident that Rocky Top is a place that’s full of passion and pride. The team is made up of highly motivated student-athletes who exude that every day through their work ethic and attitude.
“I’m thankful for Matt Kredich bringing me on board,” she continued. “He’s built a top-tier program and culture. I’m excited to learn from and work with him as well as the rest of the coaching staff.”
Prior to arriving on Rocky Top in 2021, Collins served two years as a recruiting consultant for the Sierra Marlins, a USA Swimming Gold Medal program then coached by her husband and Tennessee assistant Rob Collins, and various athletes nationwide.
With experience as both a collegiate swimmer as well as director of recruiting for multiple nationally-ranked programs, Collins has worked extensively with athletes, parents and staff to assist with the recruiting process. She’s also been involved with the Fitter Faster Tour, one of the top swim clinics and camps in the country.
Collins swam collegiately at Purdue from 2008-12. She was a team captain and three-time academic All-Big Ten selection. She competed at various national-level meets and accumulated 15 all-state honors. Collins also received the athletic department’s John Wooden Leadership Award as a senior, as well as the swim team’s Cathy Wright-Eger Educational Excellence Award.
Collins graduated with a degree in public relations and rhetorical advocacy, minoring in sociology and law & society.
The 33-year-old daughter of Michael and Diane Dunleavy excelled scholastically at Bethel Park. She reached All-America status during all four years, three times as a freshman and four times over in each of her last three seasons swimming for the Black Hawks. She was a four-time state medalist and earned district gold four times as a junior and senior, three times as a sophomore and once as a freshman.
A two-time team captain, she was a three-time USA Scholastic All-American. She competed at the Junior Nationals, U.S. Opens and spring national and short course championships as well.