Doak Finch is in his second season as an assistant coach of the Penn State men's and women's swimming programs in 2014.
He spent the previous 11 seasons as an assistant at the University of Virginia, where he primarily coached the Cavaliers' distance swimmers. The UVA distance group had a standout season in 2012-13, capturing four ACC titles, including Kelly Offutt sweeping the women's distance events (500 free, 1,650 free). Brad Phillips claimed the men's 500 free, while Jan Daniec took home the title in the 1,650 free.
In addition to his coaching duties at UVA, Finch was actively involved in recruiting and the strength and conditioning programs. He also served on the Virginia Swim Camp and UVA Aquatics swimming staffs during the summer.
Finch began his coaching career in the 2000-01 season as a volunteer assistant for his alma mater.
An All-America swimmer for the Cavaliers, Finch graduated from Virginia in 2000 with a B.A. in economics. He served as a team captain as a sophomore, junior and senior and was the team's top butterfly and individual medley swimmer. Finch was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Men's Swimming and Diving Team in August of 2002. He remains ranked among the top-10 on Virginia's all-time top times list in the 200 fly and 400 IM.
Finch concluded his career at Virginia as an 11-time NCAA All-American. He was a seven-time first-team All-American, including four first team honors in the 200 butterfly. Finch was an 11-time ACC champion (eight individual and three relay titles), the 1997 ACC Rookie of the Year and MVP of the 1998 ACC Championship meet. He became the 14th individual to win four successive ACC titles in the same event in 2000 (400 IM).
Finch placed seventh at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200 butterfly and also represented the United States at the 1999 World University Games in Palma, Spain, finishing sixth in the 200 fly. He was a multiple national finalist in the 200 butterfly.