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Leah Stancil has had no easy run to make it where she is today. She moved from Barbados to the United States to swim in college, swam four years at the University of Florida, and graduated. Then, post graduation, as she was trying to get her green card to work in the United States her father passed away. 

That was a defining moment in her life, and what brought her to her career as a coach. 

Her Past 

Stancil started off her coaching career at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), a NAIA school in Georgia. She then transitioned to coaching Division I at the University of South Carolina. After that, she went back to her alma mater and coached for 10 years at the University of Florida.

Today, she is the head coach of the women's swimming and diving program at Tulane University. Alas, she has had no easy stint in New Orleans. 

Her Battle 

Stancil was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, but throughout her battle with cancer, she continued to coach. 

Although Stancil said that she was always a planner and when she was diagnosed with cancer, she couldn't plan her recovery process. She wanted to get to the doctor's office and set up what they were going to do, but she instead had to take it one step at a time, and see what worked and what didn't. Her diagnosis taught her to stop trying to control the uncontrollables in her life.

As a head coach with cancer, she would have to work extremely hard to write practices and plan for the program all while recovering from different treatments. 

Luckily, she said the team was great about her recovery process and stepped up as leaders themselves. Stancil was fully recovered in 2020 and has had very successful seasons in the time she has been at Tulane.

Her Future

The Tulane Green Wave just finished 3rd at their conference championships, which is the highest they have ever placed while coaching at Tulane, but what's next?

Her goal is to get their pool fixed and in shape for next season, so they have a consistent training facility. 

Another thing is she wants to take Tulane to the next level, and that starts with recruiting. Having a small roster this year, there is only room to grow for Stancil and the greenwave, fighting the adversity to come out on top.  

Watch the video attached to learn more about Leah Stancil!

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* Originally published on May 9, 2022, by Kyle Haflich