Ned Skinner Tabbed to Lead Virginia Gators

Ned Skinner will become the head coach of the Roanoke-based Virginia Gators swim team starting April 2021. Skinner comes to the Gators after a 2-year stint as the head swim coach at Hollins University.

“I am very excited to accept the opportunity with the Gators and lead this outstanding program moving forward. I have known this team for many years and have coached multiple outstanding swimmers from the Gators. Doug Fonder established a high standard of excellence and I look forward to building upon his achievements with the club.”

Skinner was the head coach at Virginia Tech for 20 years and coached the teams to 4 conference titles including the 2014 men’s ACC Championship. He coached over 100 All-American performances at the school as well as over 50 conference champions. In addition, Skinner (who earned his Ph. D at VT), was named a USA Swimming National Team Coach after Robert Owen placed 6th at the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in 2016. Coach Skinner is the co-founder of 2 different club swim teams and has remained active in youth swimming through coaching high school swimming and running camps and clinics.

Prior to Virginia Tech, Dr. Skinner was the Director of Swimming at The College of William & Mary. He coached the men’s and women’s teams for four seasons and guided the program to multiple school records, conference champions, and improved conference finishes. Skinner started his head coaching career at Central Connecticut State University where he served in that role for four seasons.
Skinner and his wife Allison, an attorney for the US Government, have two children and live in Blacksburg.