University of North Carolina Athletics
Sossa Named Assistant Swimming Coach
November 3, 2022 | Swimming & Diving
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Javier Sossa, who spent the past three years as a coach with Team Elite Aquatics in San Diego, has been named an assistant swimming coach at the University of North Carolina, head coach Mark Gangloff announced Thursday.
"Javier is a creative and innovative coach that has had success coaching at the highest echelons of our sport," Gangloff said. "He's been mentored by some of the world's greatest coaches and has experience coaching many professional and Olympic athletes.
"We are fortunate to have found a coach with a huge international network and Olympic-level experience that we will integrate into the great things happening here at Carolina."
During his three years in San Diego, Sossa worked under 2021 International Swimming Hall of Fame Inductee David Marsh, founder and director of Team Elite Aquatics, one of the top professional swimming training groups in the United States.
Sossa coached nine swimmers in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with five swimmers qualifying for event finals.
He instructed multiple medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships, FINA World Cup, and European Short Course and Long Course Championships.
Sossa served as a coach in the German National Swimming Federation and Israeli National Swimming Federation from 2019-2021.
Under his tutelage, Anastasia Gorbenko became the first Israeli world champion in 2021, capturing the gold medal at the FINA World Swimming Championships in the 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter IM. Germany's Marius Kusch flourished under Sossa's guidance, capturing the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2019 European Short Course Championships.
Sossa spent three seasons as a coach in the International Swimming League (ISL), founded in 2019. He served as a home coach for the L.A. Current in 2019 and 2020 and was promoted to assistant coach of the Washington D.C. Trident in 2021.
The Trident qualified for the ISL playoffs for the first time in 2021.
"I would like to thank Senior Associate Athletic Director Clint Gwaltney and head coach Mark Gangloff for the opportunity to be part of Carolina," Sossa said. "I am honored and excited to be part of such a distinguished institution with outstanding traditions of excellence both in the classrooms and the pool.
"I look forward to bringing my International and Olympic experiences to continue to elevate the Tar Heels."
A native of Colombia, Sossa swam collegiately at Oklahoma Baptist University and helped the Bison win four consecutive NAIA national championships.
He became an assistant coach at his alma mater shortly after graduating in 2015 and spent four seasons under his coach and mentor Dr. Sam Freas. Sossa served as interim head coach at OBU for five months in 2019 before joining Team Elite Aquatics.
As a member of the coaching staff that assisted in the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II before the 2017-18 season, Sossa trained student-athletes that won five Division II event titles and earned 32 First Team All-America awards.
Sossa holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in sports science and marketing and a Master of Business Administration from OBU.
"Javier is a creative and innovative coach that has had success coaching at the highest echelons of our sport," Gangloff said. "He's been mentored by some of the world's greatest coaches and has experience coaching many professional and Olympic athletes.
"We are fortunate to have found a coach with a huge international network and Olympic-level experience that we will integrate into the great things happening here at Carolina."
During his three years in San Diego, Sossa worked under 2021 International Swimming Hall of Fame Inductee David Marsh, founder and director of Team Elite Aquatics, one of the top professional swimming training groups in the United States.
Sossa coached nine swimmers in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with five swimmers qualifying for event finals.
He instructed multiple medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships, FINA World Cup, and European Short Course and Long Course Championships.
Sossa served as a coach in the German National Swimming Federation and Israeli National Swimming Federation from 2019-2021.
Under his tutelage, Anastasia Gorbenko became the first Israeli world champion in 2021, capturing the gold medal at the FINA World Swimming Championships in the 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter IM. Germany's Marius Kusch flourished under Sossa's guidance, capturing the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2019 European Short Course Championships.
Sossa spent three seasons as a coach in the International Swimming League (ISL), founded in 2019. He served as a home coach for the L.A. Current in 2019 and 2020 and was promoted to assistant coach of the Washington D.C. Trident in 2021.
The Trident qualified for the ISL playoffs for the first time in 2021.
"I would like to thank Senior Associate Athletic Director Clint Gwaltney and head coach Mark Gangloff for the opportunity to be part of Carolina," Sossa said. "I am honored and excited to be part of such a distinguished institution with outstanding traditions of excellence both in the classrooms and the pool.
"I look forward to bringing my International and Olympic experiences to continue to elevate the Tar Heels."
A native of Colombia, Sossa swam collegiately at Oklahoma Baptist University and helped the Bison win four consecutive NAIA national championships.
He became an assistant coach at his alma mater shortly after graduating in 2015 and spent four seasons under his coach and mentor Dr. Sam Freas. Sossa served as interim head coach at OBU for five months in 2019 before joining Team Elite Aquatics.
As a member of the coaching staff that assisted in the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II before the 2017-18 season, Sossa trained student-athletes that won five Division II event titles and earned 32 First Team All-America awards.
Sossa holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in sports science and marketing and a Master of Business Administration from OBU.
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