Respected swim coach Ben Higson set for top role at Stirling
Higson - who has coached at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games - has been appointed Head Coach of the University's acclaimed high-performance swim programme.
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The University of Stirling has re-appointed renowned international swim coach Ben Higson as Head Coach of its acclaimed high-performance programme following the departure of Steve Tigg.
Higson previously coached at Stirling between 2013 and 2017, before leaving to take on senior roles with Swim Ireland and later with the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS). He has coached at the Olympics on three occasions – with Australia in 2024, Ireland in 2021, and Great Britain in 2016. He has also coached with Aquatics GB at multiple World Championships, and with Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games 2014.
Higson will return to the National Swimming Academy at Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – to replace Tigg, who has been appointed Swimming Head Coach at Aquatics GB.
On his appointment, Higson said: “I am privileged to be appointed Head Coach at the University of Stirling and to follow on from the success the programme has experienced under Steven Tigg. Alongside his coaching team, they have created a world-class environment for athletes to consistently achieve international honours.
“I look forward to working with the athletes and staff to build on these achievements through a collaborative approach that enhances the swimming programme’s contribution on the international stage.”
Head of Performance Sport, University of Stirling
Having previously led the high-performance swimming programme at Stirling, Ben is no stranger to the environment, and his subsequent experiences at the highest levels of the sport will give him a strong foundation for success.
David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to bring a coach of Ben’s calibre back to the University of Stirling.
“Having previously led the high-performance swimming programme at Stirling, he is no stranger to the environment, and his subsequent experiences at the highest levels of the sport will give him a strong foundation for success. We look forward to welcoming him back as we seek to push the boundaries of success even further.”
International success
A former swimmer himself, Ben trained and competed for Duns Amateur Swimming Club in the Scottish Borders, before spending time training at the University of Stirling. He gave up competitive swimming in 2010 and prior to his coaching role at Stirling, was Head Coach at Dumfries Amateur Swimming Club.
During his first period coaching at Stirling, and working closely with Tigg, Higson coached several athletes to Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championships success. Under his tutelage, Stirling had four swimmers at the 2016 Olympics in Rio – Ross Murdoch, Robbie Renwick, Craig Benson and Duncan Scott – and nine at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Higson left Stirling in 2017 to take up the role of National Senior Team Head Coach and Head Coach of the National Centre (Dublin) for Swim Ireland. He left Swim Ireland in 2022 after being appointed to his current position as Head Coach at WAIS.
Aquatics GB Performance Director Chris Spice said: “We are very excited that Ben is returning to poolside here in the UK, and we know he is going to have a fantastic impact on what is already a hugely successful programme at the University of Stirling.
“Ben was a key part of our coaching team at the Rio Olympic Games and led Aquatics GB athletes to fantastic results at Olympic, World Championship and European level during his previous time with Stirling. We are also looking forward to seeing the valuable experience he has gained in subsequent roles in Ireland and Australia since then.”
Fantastic results
Scottish Swimming’s National Coach Ian Wright said: “As the National Coach for Scottish Swimming, I am absolutely delighted to welcome Ben Higson back to the University of Stirling. Ben’s return marks a significant moment, as he brings invaluable international experience from his successful tenures with Swim Ireland in Dublin and at WAIS, Perth, Western Australia.
“Having worked closely with Ben when we were both part of the London Roar ISL team, I have seen first-hand his ability to inspire and lead elite athletes at the highest level. His previous work at Stirling helped shape the programme’s legacy of excellence, and I am confident that his return will only strengthen this.
“Leading athletes such as Duncan Scott, Katie Shanahan, and Kathleen Dawson, who are already familiar with Ben’s coaching style, will undoubtedly be excited to work with him again and build on their successes under his guidance. His experience, knowledge, and passion for developing talent make him the perfect fit to drive the University of Stirling and Scottish Swimming forward, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact his leadership will bring.”
Influential
Australian Head Coach Rohan Taylor said: “It is going to be difficult to see Ben Higson head back to the UK as he has done such a great job over the past two years with the WAIS programme and has been heavily influential in the development of budding Dolphins Iona Anderson and Josh Yong, who made their Olympic debut in Paris.
“He has proved himself as a world-class coach and developed – and led – the WAIS programme to become a destination programme not just for athletes within Western Australia but also from interstate.
“His attention to detail is second to none, he is collaborative and at all times, the wellbeing of his athletes is front and centre. We would like to wish Ben all the best with his family and coaching, I hope we can see Ben back in Australia in the future.”
Matt Fulton, Chief Executive Officer of WAIS, said: “Ben’s contribution to the WAIS Swimming Programme has been nothing short of transformative. His leadership and commitment have not only elevated the athletes and programme, but have re-positioned our swimming programme as a key player on the national stage. We are deeply grateful for his time with us, and wish him all the best as he embarks on this exciting new chapter back home in Scotland.”
The University of Stirling offers a world-leading high-performance swim programme, which provides athletes with a bespoke package of world-class coaching, access to state-of-the-art facilities, performance mentoring and access to the latest innovations in sports research. Those on scholarships can also benefit from academic flexibility to support their education alongside their sporting ambitions. Bradley Hay, Josh Williamson and Charlie Boldison coach on the programme and current athletes include Duncan Scott, Kathleen Dawson, Jack McMillan and Katie Shanahan.