SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After an extensive search, Notre Dame has added elite talent to its staff just in time for the heart of the 2023-24 season.
The Irish swimming and diving program welcomes João De Lucca as its new assistant coach and director of operations. De Lucca will assist the Irish swimmers in the pool while also handling numerous logistics for a program on the rise.
De Lucca is a two-time Olympian, having participated in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics for Brazil. He is also a three-time NCAA champion from 2013 and 2014 and has served as a captain for numerous high-level teams including the Brazilian National Team.
“I’m excited to welcome João, Carol and their two beautiful daughters to our Irish Family,” Peterson Family Head Coach Chris Lindauer said. “As a three-time NCAA champion and two- time Olympian, João brings world-class experience to our program. As a coach, he will bring a high level of technical and strategic value to Notre Dame. His hire will continue to level up our program at the national and world class-level on which we are building. Go Irish!”
De Lucca most recently served as a swim clinician for Fitter & Faster where he worked with athletes on technique, starts, turns and promoting a healthy lifestyle. He has also been a private para-athlete coach since 2020, was a personal coach for the Race Pace Swim Club from August 2019-December 2020, and served as the head coach of Cardinal Aquatics beginning in 2019. He started as an assistant there in 2015.
De Lucca holds a B.A. in communications from the University of Louisville.