The University of Texas Permian Basin swimming and diving program has added a familiar face to its coaching staff, announcing the hiring of former Falcon swimmer Leo Eleftherakis as an assistant coach and the aquatics director.
A native of Thessaloniki, Greece, Eleftherakis joins the staff after competing for the Falcons from Fall 2021 to Spring 2025. With firsthand experience as a Falcon and a deep understanding of the program’s culture, Eleftherakis brings both familiarity and ambition to the role.
As a coach, Eleftherakis emphasizes development beyond the pool, focusing on shaping student-athletes into leaders within the community.
As a student assistant in 2025-26, Eleftherakis helped the program achieve a historic performance at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, where the team broke 10 school records in a single meet.
Eleftherakis first discovered swimming at age 12, joining a club team despite not yet knowing how to swim. What began as a new activity quickly became a lifelong passion.
His rapid development led him to compete at the Greek National Championships by age 15. At 17, he reached a major milestone, placing among the nation’s top 50 swimmers in the open division of the 50-meter backstroke — an achievement that solidified his goal of competing collegiately in the United States.
Eleftherakis’ hiring signals continuity for the UTPB swimming and diving program while reinforcing its commitment to developing student-athletes both competitively and personally.
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