Ryan Lochte to coach Missouri State swimming: 'I traded in my goggles for a stopwatch'

Missouri State's swimmers will soon be coached by a 12-time Olympic medalist. MSU Athletics announced Ryan Lochte, the third-most decorated swimmer in Olympic history, will join Missouri State's swimming staff as an assistant coach.

Lochte, 41, has competed in four Olympic games, with the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro being his last. He still holds a part of the world record in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.

After college, Lochte broke several world records in the individual medley events and earned the American Swimmer of the Year Award twice, according to the release. In total, he has won 90 medals, 54 of them gold, in major international competitions.

In an Instagram announcement of the position, Lochte said in the past few years he has become more passionate about coaching than competing.

"I traded in my goggles for a stopwatch, and I'm not gonna lie, it looks pretty good on me," he said in the video.

Lochte will join MSU later this summer. MSU's Board of Governors are expected to review and finalize his contract at its next meeting on June 26.

"His experience and proven success at the highest levels of our sport will have an immediate impact on our program and our student-athletes," Dave Collins, MSU's swimming and diving head coach, said in a news release. "Beyond his lengthy list of accomplishments as an athlete, Ryan has a work ethic that will translate very well on deck as a coach. When you have the opportunity to bring in one of the best ever in our sport, you do everything you can to make it happen."

According to the release, Lochte was a 24-time swimming All-American at the University of Florida, where he earned his degree in sport management in 2007. During his collegiate career, he was the NCAA Swimmer of the Year twice, a seven-time NCAA champion, a seven-time SEC champion, and broke American records in the 200-yard individual medley and 200-yard backstroke.

"From a personal standpoint, this is a new chapter that I'm truly excited about," Lochte said in the release. "Swimming has given me so much, and this is my chance to give back in a meaningful way. I'm coming into this role with humility, hunger, and a genuine passion to make an impact."