Olivia Parham returns for a second season as an assistant coach with the Union College men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs in 2026-27.
During her first season on the pool deck in Schenectady, the men posted a dual-meet record of 5-5, and the women went 6-6, marking the first time both teams were at or above .500 in the same season since 1997-98. In 2025-26, the men's side posted seven new individual top-10 times, and the women earned five. Both the men's and women's 100 IM records were rewritten with senior Drew Hill going 52.79 in the event at the Liberty League championships, and junior Chloe Matthews posting a 1:02.00. Hill also broke the program's 100 fly record during Parham's first season in the Electric City.
Parham joined Union in 2025-26 after a standout swimming career at Cal State East Bay, where she was a multiple-time CSCAA All-American and record-holder. She earned All-America recognition across three seasons, highlighted by helping the Pioneers to a program-record performance in the 200-yard freestyle relay at the 2023 NCAA Division II championships. Out of the pool, Parham was equally successful, earning CSCAA Scholar All-America honors in each of her four years and the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award three times.
Since graduating, Parham has gained valuable coaching experience on deck with Mesa Aquatics in Arizona and with EBAT Masters in California, where she worked with swimmers of all ages and abilities. She has also spent time working in strength and conditioning at Cal State East Bay, further broadening her understanding of collegiate athletics.
A native of Redding, Calif., Parham graduated from Cal State East Bay in 2024 with a degree in Kinesiology.
