Ken Pierson ‘80
Ken Pierson’s Notre Dame legacy began as a championship swimmer and has continued for decades as one of the most accomplished coaches in school history.
A Class of 1980 graduate, Pierson won multiple Class LL and State Open championships and served as team captain before continuing his swimming career at La Salle University, where he was also named captain.
He returned to Notre Dame as head coach in 1988 and has led the program to 230 dual-meet victories, three state championships, two SCC championships, 26 state champions, 56 All-State swimmers, and nine All-Americans. After returning to the pool deck in 2022, he led Notre Dame to the 2025 SCC Division Championship.
With Coach of the Year honors spanning more than two decades, Pierson’s impact goes far beyond the record book. He has helped generations of Notre Dame student-athletes discover what they are capable of—and challenged them to reach even higher.
