Ignacio Gayo

Title

Associate Head Coach
Email

igayo@fiu.edu
Phone

305.348.8391

Ignacio Gayo enters his tenth season at FIU serving as the Associate Head Coach for the Panthers' swimming and diving team. Gayo, who serves as head coach Randy Horner’s right-hand man, coaches the sprinters and is also the Panthers top international and domestic recruiter. Gayo helped lead FIU to their sixth-straight conference title in 2019. He also coached Naomi Ruele to her fourth consecutive NCAA appearance in which she broke the school record in the 100 Back with a time of 52.42.

During the 2017-18 season, Gayo and Horner helped lead the Panthers to their fourth-straight Conference USA Championship setting a new meet record with 1031 team points. The Panthers recorded 16 first place finishes during the four-day competition and registered 45 all-conference honors as well as four C-USA Superlative honors, including Swimmer and Diver of the Year. Each year under Horner and Gayo’s tenure, the Panthers have gradually shown improvement in the program’s success at conference championships. During this past season and for the first time in program history, the Panthers earned the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championship.

Gayo led numerous FIU swimmers in the most prestigious college competitions. Gayo helped Johanna Gustafsdottir performing in four NCAA tournament as well as assisted Silvia Scalia to perform in the NCAA tournament during her first year at FIU. In 2016-17 he also directed the 400 freestyle relay that saw FIU swimming earning school history record as it was the first team to be invited in the NCAA tournament with a time of 3:15.23 and who scored the best result in the C- USA. Gayo accompanied Naomi Ruele as coach of the Botswana National Team to the Commonwealth Games during April 2018, where she placed 15th in the 100 back and 12th in the 50 back. He also coached for Botswana in December 2016 for short course world championships.

Beginning in the fall of 2008 until the spring of 2010, Gayo stayed at his alma mater, Missouri State, as a graduate assistant coach. Among Gayo's many duties, he served as the international recruiting coordinator for Missouri State. Gayo also coached the sprints, backstroke and fly groups at Missouri State where the women's team became Missouri Valley Conference Champions in 2009 and 2010.

Gayo was a team captain at Missouri State between the years of 2004-08 when Horner was the associate head swimming coach at Missouri State. In 2004, Gayo was named Missouri State Freshman of the Year and was an All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2004 and 2005 as Gayo sparked his team to the Missouri Valley Conference Championship both years.

In 2006, Gayo was named Missouri State Swimmer of the Year. He was also named Outstanding Missouri State student-athlete during his four years at the school. A four-year letterwinner at Missouri State, Gayo holds the school record in the 50 free (20.23). He also holds the second-best time in school history in the 100 free (44.41) and 100 fly (48.88) when Horner was the associate head swimming coach at Missouri State. In 2004, Gayo was named Missouri State Freshman of the Year and was an All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2004 and 2005 as Gayo sparked his team to the Missouri Valley Conference Championship both years. Before arriving at Missouri State, Gayo swam for Real Canoe Swimming Club in Madrid, Spain (2001-04). There, Gayo was part of the 2003 & 2004 national championship teams. He was also a member of a team that holds the junior national record in the 400 free relay.

Gayo graduated from Missouri State University in 2008 with duo bachelors degrees in Computer Information Systems and Information Technology Service Management. He also gradated with a masters degree in Administrative Studies with emphasis on Sports Management from Missouri. In December 2018, he obtained a second masters degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from FIU.

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Ignacio Gayo