Royce Brown

Bio

Royce Brown joined the University of Tampa swimming team as an assistant coach in May of 2021. In this position, he helps oversee both men's and women's teams, primarily working with the distance group. 

In 2024-25, Brown was part of a staff that won the SSC Championship. Finishing in second place nationally, Brown mentored sophomore Jacob Hamlin, who set NCAA Division II records in the 500 Freestyle (4:18.00) and the 1,650 Freestyle (14:50.36), winning national titles in both events. Hamlin would become the first NCAA Division II swimmer since 2019 to win four individual titles and set four national records in a championship. The Spartans' 800 Freestyle Relay team also won a national championship. He also assisted with the women's team, which also won the SSC Championship. The Spartans would achieve a sixth-place finish nationally, marking their sixth consecutive top-10 placement at the national level.

He was part of a historic  2024 season as he led the Spartans to the men's national championship, marking the first in program history. He also guided the women's team to a seventh-place finish, marking the sixth straight top-10 NCAA Championships finish. In all, the Spartans totaled 11 men's All-Americans and 10 on the women's side. Additionally, Santiago Corredor was named the Sunshine State Conference Swimmer of the Year and the SSC Athlete of the Year, which spans all sports. UT also had four individuals capture national titles at the NCAA Championships.

Brown was a part of the 2022-23 staff that led both the men’s and the women’s swim teams to successful campaigns. The men were crowned SSC Champions for just the second time in program history, setting eleven meet records and six conference records along the way to earn the title. The Spartan women also did their part, placing second in the SSC Championship. They broke two NCAA Division II records, set eight meet records and bested four four conference records along the way.

Both teams also saw success at the 2023 NCAA Division II Swimming Championships, finishing in the top ten. The men placed fourth, their best finish since 2002, and the women placed tenth, a continuation of their top ten appearances for five consecutive seasons. Both the men’s and women’s teams set school records in the 800 Free Relay, with several swimmers achieving All-American status during the championships with their performances.

Brown was previously the Boy’s Head Coach of Plant high school from 2008-2020 coaching the boys teams to multiple top 5 finishes along with 2 individual state champions and multiple All-American honors.

Brown began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Tampa from 1990 to 2001. He worked under the guidance of Ed Brennan, the first swim coach at the University of Tampa.