Megan Garland joined the Florida Southern swimming program in the fall of 2015 as the Moccasins' new assistant coach under Mike Blum. Now in her second year with the team, Garland helped the Moccasins finish third nationally at the NCAA Division II Men's National Finals, and 15th at the Women's Finals. She was also a key component in the Moccasins' double Sunshine State Conference Championship in 2016, with the men winning their fourth straight SSC title, and the women winning their first.
Garland was already very familiar with the SSC and the Florida Southern swimming program prior to joining the Moccasins. She was a 4-year letter winner at the University of Tampa from the fall of 2005 through the spring of 2009, and earned All-American honors during two of those seasons. She was later a member of the coaching staff at Nova Southeastern University from January of 2010 through August of 2011, and helped the Sharks win the inaugural SSC Men’s Championship in her second season there.
Prior to her hiring at Florida Southern, Garland spent five years with the South Florida Aquatic Club in Pembroke Pines where she was an assistant swim coach for various age groups, senior athletes, and adults. During that same time she also served as the head swimming and diving coach at Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School from September of 2011 through April of 2014, was a member of the Florida Gold Coast Southern Zone coaching staff in 2012, and a Florida Gold Coast All-Star Open Water coach from 2012-14. During that time, Garland produced 12 FHSAA State qualifiers at the high school level, and one Junior National qualifier.
Garland’s coaching career began in August of 2009 following her graduation from the University of Tampa. Returning home to her native Aurora, Illinois, Garland was the assistant varsity coach and head JV coach of the girls’ team at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.
As a collegiate swimmer, Garland helped Tampa to four top-15 finishes at the NCAA Division II National Finals. She earned honorable mention All-American status as a member of the Spartans’ 200-yard freestyle relay team, and was an All-American in the 800-freestyle relay where she helped them set the school record for that event in 2009. As a senior captain that year, Garland qualified for the National Finals in six events and helped lead the Spartans to the Bluegrass Mountain Conference championship.
In addition to her work in the pool, Garland was also a Dean’s List student at Tampa, and a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and the Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Marine Science and Biology, and is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Zone Management.
