HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i men's swimmer Steve Allnutt was named the head coach of the UH men's and women's swimming and diving programs, athletics director Craig Angelos announced Friday.
 
"It is with gratefulness and excitement that I begin this journey leading the UH Swimming & Diving program," Allnutt said. "Thank you to Craig Angelos, and the search committee for showing faith in me to continue the unique and outstanding traditions of the Rainbow Wahine and Rainbow Warriors. This program has a special place in the diving and swimming world, and with the great support of the Hawai'i Athletics Department, we will continue an exemplary well rounded student-athlete experience for our divers and swimmers.
 
"With respect to the past and future of this one-of-a-kind program, our team will work every day to represent ourselves, our families, our University, and the GREAT state of Hawai'i by spreading Aloha to the worldwide swimming and diving community."
 
A standout for the Rainbow Warriors from 2007-11, Allnutt helped lead UH to the 2011 Conference USA title and placed in the top five in the 400 IM, 500 free and 1650 free at the conference meet. Outside the pool, Allnutt competed in the 2011 USA Swimming National Open Water Championships, placing top 15 in the 5k event.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Steve back to the UH swimming and diving family," Angelos said. "We had a great pool of candidates to choose from and he really distinguished himself during the process. The fact that Steve is a former Rainbow Warrior swimmer here is an extra bonus for us. We look forward to great things from him as he takes our reigning men's and women's conference championship program to even greater heights."
 
Allnutt arrives at Hawai'i with a decade of coaching experience in the Mountain West. He most recently served two seasons as an assistant coach for the women's team at San Jose State. Prior to that, Allnutt coached eight seasons at San Diego State, the last four of which he served as associate head coach.
 
During his time at San Jose State, the Spartans defeated rivals Fresno State and Nevada in dual meets, both for the first time in over a decade. He also led their distance squad to a second-place team finish at the inaugural MPSF Open Water Championships, a competition that he helped start as a championship committee member.
 
While with the Aztec women's program, Allnutt helped lead them to four Mountain West titles (2015, 2019, 2020, 2022) and coached three-time Mountain West Swimmer of the Year Klara Thormalm.
 
Allnutt also helped guide San Diego State to a dual meet record of 85-2 during his tenure, ending his time with the Aztecs on a 40-meet winning streak. A total of 30 Aztecs advanced to the NCAA Championships during his time with the program, highlighted by 12 entries and a 39th-place national finish in his first season at SDSU in 2014-15.
 
Aztec swimmers combined to win 44 individual and relay Mountain West titles over his eight seasons on staff, while 11 San Diego State athletes earned CSCAA All-America recognition. Allnutt also helped lead SDSU to top-three conference finishes in each of his seasons on staff.
 
After earning his undergraduate degree from Hawai'i in 2011, Allnutt remained with the program as a volunteer assistant coach for two seasons before departing for San Diego State.
 
The Forest Grove, Ore., native holds a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and exercise science and earned his master's degree in kinesiology, with a focus on research in swimming biomechanics, under Dr. Jan Prins, in 2014, both degrees were at UH.