EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Bringing an impressive pedigree that includes coaching experience at three major institutions, Canaan Campbell has been named the Head Swimming and Diving Coach at the University of Evansville (UE) in an announcement by Director of Athletics Dr. Ziggy Siegfried.
 
"Canaan is an outstanding addition to our program and our department. Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to get to know him and follow his success from a distance, and it has been clear that he brings a strong commitment to developing the total student-athlete. He is intentional about creating an environment where our student-athletes can thrive academically, athletically, and personally," Siegfried said. "That focus, combined with his energy and proven ability to build relationships, made him a great fit for the University of Evansville. We are excited to welcome Canaan and Kayley to the Aces community."
 
Campbell joins the Purple Aces program from Tulane University where he has served as an assistant swimming coach since July of 2024. Prior to his tenure with the Green Wave, Campbell spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Lindenwood. His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Georgia Southern.
 
"I am honored to accept the position as head coach at the University of Evansville. This program has a storied history, and I look forward to building on the past successes of the previous staff and contributing to the rise of the Purple Aces Swimming and Diving program," Campbell exclaimed. "The personal connection I have to this program makes this such an amazing opportunity to lead a program that my dad once headed up. I would like to thank Director of Athletics Dr. Ziggy Siegfried, Associate Athletics Director Kim Smith, and President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz for this opportunity." 
 
His ties to UE and the Missouri Valley Conference go back even further. Campbell was a 4-year letterwinner at Missouri State where he was a member of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championship team. He was also named the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year. His father – Clark Campbell – was the head coach for the Purple Aces from 1998 through 2002 and has been the head coach at Kansas since that time.
 
"I would also like to thank Amanda Caldwell and everyone with Tulane University Swimming and Diving for the opportunity to connect and develop the Green Wave program. I want to also give a heartfelt thanks to the Lindenwood Swimming and Diving program and Jason Owen for those amazing opportunities to grow at multiple different levels," Campbell continued. "I would not be here without the love and support of my wife, Kayley Alioto, throughout every step of our lives. Finally, thank you to every student-athlete that I have coached--I would not be blessed with this opportunity without each and every one of you. I am looking forward to getting to work and starting the next chapter of Purple Aces Swimming and Diving!" 
 
Under Campbell's tutelage, Tulane enjoyed great success throughout his time with the program. Over the course of the 2025-26 season, Green Wave student-athletes won 11 American Conference weekly awards. Lisa Coetzee was the league champion in the 200 FR while Eliza Lennox won the 100 FR at the National Invitational Championship. The squad was one of the top ten teams at the CSCAA Open Water Championships, which took place in Sarasota, Fla. In December of 2025.
 
"I am thrilled to welcome Coach Campbell for his enthusiasm in the sports of swimming and diving and his affection for the Purple Aces. Canaan has demonstrated success with a variety of teams, and I believe he will be a great addition to our program," UE Associated Athletics Director and Sport Supervisor Kim Smith said.
 
In his first season at Tulane in 2024-25, the team finished with 54 top 10 school marks including 10 school records. The team also won six events, had 28 overall All-Conference marks, and a placing of third overall at the league championship meet with 1234.50 points. Campbell was part of a staff that earned the AAC's Coaching Staff of the Year honors. The program had 10 qualify to participate in the National Championship Invitational (NIC), three divers that earned bids to the Zone Diving Championship and four swimmers named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators. The team also earned an in-season ranking of No. 38 by Swim Cloud after a strong start to the campaign.

Campbell arrived at Tulane after spending four years at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri as an assistant coach for the men's and women's swimming and diving teams primarily working with the Mid Distance/Stroke group. In his final two seasons, Lindenwood competed in the Summit League finishing second with the men and third with the women in both seasons. Prior to the transition to Division I, Lindenwood was a Division II stronghold capturing the 2021 Women's Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship and later securing fourth at the 2021 Division II Nationals for the highest finish in school history.

During those four years, Campbell coached multiple Division II All-Americans, Conference Champions at the Division II and Division I level, and the 2023 CSCAA National Invitational Champion in the men's 100 IM while being a part of the staff that was named coach of the year three times (2021 GLVC Women, 2023 Summit League Men, 2024 Summit League Men).  

Prior to Lindenwood, Campbell was the graduate assistant at Georgia Southern University working under Coach Amanda Caldwell during the 2019-2020 season and obtained his master's degree in Coaching Education. He was a four-year letterwinner at Missouri State University and a member of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championship team while also being named the 2018 Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  

Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Campbell is a 2014 graduate of Lawrence Free State High School. He is a member of the College Swim Coaches Association of America and a certified USA Swimming Coach.

Campbell and his wife Kayley have two cats, Bagel and Ozzie, and 7 nieces and nephews.
 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
 
"Going all the way back to our time overlapping in club swimming as kids in Lawrence, one thing has always been true - Canaan brings unmatched energy every single day. It has been a privilege watching him grow through different coaching roles, his passion to guide his athletes to be high performing in every area is inspiring. That consistency, paired with his enthusiasm, makes him incredibly deserving of his first head coaching opportunity at Evansville." - Chelsea Dirks-Ham, Associate Head Coach Missouri State
 
"Canaan has a unique ability to connect and build genuine relationships with every athlete he coaches. He has always had a strong passion to help his athletes grow and achieve their highest potential in and out of the pool. He leads with integrity and authenticity that his athletes love to be around. Evansville has gained an outstanding leader for the next chapter of their swim and dive team." - Blair Bish, Assistant Coach Dartmouth College
 
"Canaan Campbell is an innovative coach who doesn't just follow the current, he's willing to challenge it to get the best out of his student-athletes. What sets him apart is his ability to build real relationships that create trust, alignment, and accountability across a program. That combination is what drives lasting success, and he's ready to lead and elevate the Evansville program from day one."  - Amanda Caldwell, Head Coach Tulane University
 
"Canaan Campbell is one of the most talented young coaches in collegiate swimming today, and the University of Evansville made an outstanding choice in hiring him as head coach. He brings tremendous energy, integrity, and a clear vision for building a successful program. This is the kind of hire that can elevate a program immediately—Evansville absolutely knocked it out of the park." - Randy Horner, Head Coach Florida International University 
 
"Canaan is the perfect fit to lead the University of Evansville program. He will pour everything he has into the student-athletes to insure they excel in the pool and the classroom. Canaan has had success with each program he has been associated with and it will be fun to watch what he does with the Aces!" -Dave Collins, Head Coach Missouri State University