NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Norwich University Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury announced Friday the hiring of Ron Lee II as the next head coach of the Norwich University men's and women's swimming and diving programs.
Lee assumes leadership of one of the premier NCAA Division III swimming and diving programs in New England following one of the most successful eras in Norwich Athletics history. During the previous seven seasons under Head Coach Jennifer Cournoyer, the Cadets established themselves as a conference powerhouse, capturing nine Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships, including four consecutive men's and women's championship sweeps from 2023-26, while producing NCAA regional qualifiers, conference champions, school records, and numerous academic award winners.
"Our Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving program has a proud tradition and rich history here at Norwich, including unprecedented competitive success under Head Coach Jennifer Cournoyer," Hockenbury said. "While following Jen will be no easy task, Ron Lee is a great fit for us, and I'm excited to announce his hire."
"Ron will also be a great department and university citizen. He is thoughtful and reflective, and he is eager to meet people across campus and immerse himself in the full Norwich experience. I want to welcome Ron and his family to Norwich."
Lee arrives in Northfield after spending the past 13 years leading the Amarillo Independent School District swimming program in Texas, where he served as district-wide swimming coordinator and head coach. Charged with overseeing a four-campus program serving more than 100 student-athletes annually, Lee transformed the program into one of the state's consistent performers, increasing the number of regional qualifiers from eight to 54 in just five years despite limited facility access. His teams captured five district championships and two regional runner-up finishes while producing state medalists, state finalists, team record holders, and NCAA Division I and Division II student-athletes.
"Ron's values and philosophy clearly align with those of our University and Athletic Department. He made clear his commitment first to helping develop young men and women who are leaders of character and integrity, who prioritize their education, and who are great teammates with a strong work ethic that take pride in giving their all to compete for Norwich. Ron has led teams and individuals to great accomplishments, and he is committed to maintaining our strong program by building meaningful relationships with student-athletes and fostering a team culture centered on teamwork, selflessness, and continual improvement."
In addition to his scholastic coaching responsibilities, Lee has served as co-director and head coach of Amarillo Swim Team, a USA Swimming club serving approximately 100 swimmers ages 8-18. In that role, he has overseen athlete recruitment, assistant coach development, budgeting, travel logistics, facility management, and long-term athlete development while building a sustainable culture rooted in accountability, relationships, and competitive excellence.
A veteran educator, Lee has also spent more than a decade teaching International Baccalaureate History, AP European History, AP Psychology, and other humanities courses. His commitment to developing students in both the classroom and the pool reflects the holistic approach that drew him to Norwich's mission of producing leaders of character. Lee earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports & Exercise Science from West Texas A&M University before completing a Master of Theological Studies from Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, where his graduate work emphasized theological formation and ethics.
"I am both excited and incredibly humbled by the opportunity to lead the Norwich Swimming and Diving teams," Lee said. "The more I learn about Norwich, the more impressed I become. Norwich has a storied history rich in character, service, and excellence where success matures from a community committed to the formation of leaders. Success is rarely accidental, it is patterned, and my attraction to Norwich grew out of this shared commitment."
"You cannot give what you do not have. I firmly believe that transformed people transform people, and authentic cultures grow from this conviction. Once it became clear to me that Norwich takes the formation of its students this seriously, I knew I had found a place whose mission deeply aligned with my own."
"The Norwich Swimming and Diving teams already have a pattern for success, and I feel a profound gratitude that Ed Hockenbury has entrusted me with serving these student-athletes and continuing the excellence they have built. My goal is not to rebuild, but to extend and sharpen a culture already committed to excellence. I can only do this because of the remarkable foundation Coach Jennifer Cournoyer and Coach Chris Delmas have established, and it is with tremendous gratitude to them that my work of service begins. I cannot wait to meet our team, connect with our alumni, and begin the next chapter of Norwich Swimming together."
A decorated swimmer himself, Lee was a Consideration All-American in the butterfly during his competitive high school career before being selected as an Olympic Torchbearer during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. He is a multiple-time District Swimming Coach of the Year and has written and presented extensively on leadership, education, coaching, and culture. Most recently, he authored Swimming: An Aquatic Sport for Terrestrial Creatures for the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association Newsletter in 2024.
Lee will arrive in Northfield later this summer in August as he begins preparations for the 2026-27 season and the next chapter of one of the nation's most successful Division III swimming and diving programs.
