South Raleigh News

Raleigh, NC – Former NC State swimmer and ACC Champion John Payne has been named head coach of the U.S. Paralympics Swimming team and will lead the team for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris this summer.

Payne was a letter winner at NC State and a member of the 1984 ACC Championship team, which went 11-1 in the regular season. This will be Payne's first Paralympic Games.

"It is always a great honor to represent the USA in international competition, and I am proud to be able to lead Team USA in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris," Payne said in a press release. "There is no better feeling as a coach to help make what once started as a dream for an athlete become a reality. I look forward to working with U.S. Paralympics Swimming to build an outstanding staff and create an environment and team culture where each athlete has the preparation and support to compete and perform at their highest level."

Payne is currently the associate head coach of the Triangle Aquatics Center (TAC) Titans swim team. This will not be the first time Payne has coached Team USA, having served various positions, including head coach, between 2011 and 2019 for USA Swimming's National Select and National Open Water Select Camps. As an NC Swimming Open Water Committee member, he helped develop the NC Open Water Select Camp and has been its head coach since its inception.

In 2023, Payne was the head coach for the United States in the Pan American Games that saw five Wolfpack swimmers participate, including Arsenio Bustos, Will Gallant, Luke Miller, Kennedy Noble, and James Plage.

Prior to NC State, he was an All-American Swimmer at the Baylor School located in Chattanooga, TN. Payne received two degrees from NC State: B.A. in English and M.S. in Technical Communication. Following his Wolfpack career Payne competed as a professional triathlete for six years throughout the US and Canada.

"We are extremely excited to welcome John to the Paris team," said Erin Popovich, Director of U.S. Paralympics Swimming, in a press release announcing Payne as head coach. "He has proven himself throughout his career to be a strong leader with a history of excellence in sport. I have no doubt that he will lead Team USA to a successful Games this summer."

Swimmers that make up the 2024 Paralympic Team will be announced following the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials which will take place from June 27-29 at University of Minneapolis. Team USA won 35 medals at the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021.