McAllister returns to BYU as swim and dive assistant coach

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PROVO, Utah — BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe has named Tamber McAllister assistant coach for the BYU swim and dive team.

McAllister was the head coach of the Dixie State women’s swimming program for the past three years. Previous to that, she served as assistant coach at BYU in two separate stints.

“We are incredibly excited to have Tamber return to BYU,” said interim BYU head swim and dive coach Shari Skabelund. “She brings so much to the table. Tamber knows the sport of swimming inside and out, she is a wonderful teacher, a calm presence and she connects with young adults. Welcome home, Tamber.”

In her first season at DSU, McAllister led the Trailblazers to a third place finish in the RMAC and saw eight swimmers earn all-conference honors. In her second season, McAllister was named RMAC Coach of the Year. Last season was Dixie State’s first at the Division I level. The team took seventh place at the WAC Championships, where they also broke eight school records. Seventeen swimmers were named to the 2020-21 Academic All-WAC Team, and the team posted a combined 3.45 GPA.

McAllister coached for the BYU swim team as an assistant coach from 2005-11 and 2012-18. She had been a member of the coaching staff for four years on the women’s side and then started helping with both the men and women in stroke work. 

Before joining the BYU coaching staff, she coached one year at East High School in Salt Lake City and a few seasons for various club teams. She spent the 2011-2012 season coaching at the Wasatch Front Fish Market in Salt Lake.  

McAllister competed on the BYU swimming team from 2000-04. During that time, she specialized in the breaststroke events, winning the Mountain West Conference 200 breast title four years in a row. She held the BYU women’s pool record in the 200 breast (2:17.55). She competed in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200 and 100 breast placing 12th and 26th respectively. 

A native of El Dorado Hills, Calif., McAllister received a Bachelor's degree in Health Science from BYU in 2004. She is married to Eric McAllister, and they are the parents of four children.