Jan Prins, Ph.D.

Jan Prins is currently a member of the faculty at the University of Hawaii, where he directs the Aquatic Research Laboratory and teaches sports biomechanics.

He has been involved with swimming for over fifty years. His primary focus has been conducting swimming stroke clinics and video workshops for competitive swimmers, triathletes, and masters swimmers including open-water swimmers, helping them improve their swimming skills.

Research

• For the past twenty-two years he has been involved with unique swimming research that analyzes the stroke mechanics of elite swimmers, including Olympic gold medalists, FINA world swimming champions, and former world record holders.

  
  

• He has presented his research at national and international swimming conferences, including the ASCA World Clinics for swim coaches.

  
  

• He was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Swimming Research and the recipient of the American Swimming Coaches Association “Bob Ousley” Award for contributions to the sport.

Coaching

• He was the head assistant coach under the legendary “Doc” Counsilman at Indiana University, where he received his PhD in human performance.

  
  

• He served as head men’s swimming coach at the University of Hawaii. During his tenure, his teams placed in the top 20 at the NCAA Division I Championships and in the top 10 at the USS Senior Indoor Championships. 

  
  

• He was the coach for Sri Lanka in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.

  
  

• He was a member of the United States Paralympic Swimming coaching staff at the 1992 Paralympic Games and the 1994 World Paralympic Games.

  
  

• He worked with the United States Armed Services Wounded Warrior Program and was a member of the coaching staff of the United States Team at the inaugural Invictus Games held in London, UK, in 2014.