USA Swimming Elects Brent Lang as Board of Directors Chairperson
The USA Swimming Board of Directors on Tuesday announced the election of Brent Lang as its new chairperson.
Lang was the unanimous choice by the board. He will serve a four-year term through September 2029. He replaces Natalie Coughlin, who last month announced she will step down.
Coughlin’s departure necessitated other changes in board composition, including high-profile former athletes. Olympic gold medalist Maya Dirado was selected by USA Swimming’s Athlete Advisory Council to fulfill the remainder of Coughlin’s term on USA Swimming’s board.
Newly retired Lilly King was elected as the chairperson of the AAC, with Nic Fink re-elected as vice chair. King takes over the chair from Caitlin Leverenz-Smith, who has served as the chairperson since the AAC’s inception in 2021. King, a three-time Olympian and six-time Olympic medalist, retired after the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
Lang was an accomplished swimmer, winning a gold medal on the men’s 400 freestyle relay at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. He won four NCAA titles at the University of Michigan, then received his MBA from Stanford.
“I’m honored to serve as Board Chair and to help guide USA Swimming through this next phase of growth and opportunity,” Lang said in a press release. “Our organization is at an exciting inflection point with the LA28 Games on the horizon and a deep well of talent across our athletes, coaches, and staff. My goal is to ensure that the Board operates with unity, focus, and transparency while keeping athlete development and long-term vision at the heart of every decision. Together, we can continue to strengthen the foundation of our sport and position USA Swimming for sustained success well into the future.”
Lang served as the CEO of Vocera Communications, leading it through both an initial public offering and an acquisition in 2022 by Stryker. He’s a board member for Outset Medical and chairs the board for Eko Health, both medical technology firms.
Lang was a board member for USA Gymnastics from 2018-24, helping the organization through a complete overhaul of governance after athlete abuse scandals. His athlete-focused work has included being involved with the Positive Coaching Alliance and on the board of Thriveworks.
As chairperson, Lang will oversee governance of the board, collaborate with USA Swimming leadership and athletes and guide the organization through the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“Brent is an incredible leader who brings a unique mix of business insight, athlete perspective, and governance to this role,” USA Swimming Chief Executive Officer Kevin Ring said. “As an Olympian and seasoned executive, he knows what it takes to drive success in and out of the pool. His leadership and thoughtful approach will help guide USA Swimming through its next phase of growth.”