The College Swimming League (CSL), a revolutionary sports enterprise, today unveiled its plans to fundamentally reimagine college swimming. Founded by Robert Kent and Kyle Sockwell, with support from the International Swimming League (ISL), the CSL is built on a dual foundation of athletic excellence and commercial viability, aiming to transform the fall swim season into a broadcast-ready spectacle.
The CSL seeks to bring swimming in line with other prominent sports in the US, such as the NBA and NFL, which are embedded within US college sports. To this end, the CSL will help prepare talent for the ISL and elsewhere, creating opportunities for the best college swimmers to seamlessly transition into the highest echelon of swimming.
“College swimming is a proven breeding ground for Olympians and world record holders but for too long has been an untapped reservoir of commercial opportunity” said Robert Kent, CEO of the College Swimming League. “The CSL is here to change that. We are committing the operational expertise and capital to elevate the sport, creating a consistent, exciting, and commercially sustainable product that benefits all stakeholders – from universities and athletes to the NCAA, CSCAA, broadcasters, sponsors and most of all, the fans.”
Braden Holloway, Head Coach at North Carolina State University, said: “We’re proud to be part of a league that brings fresh energy and a new platform to showcase the best of college swimming.”
Bill Dorenkott, Head Coach at The Ohio State University, said: “Ohio State is beyond thrilled to be a part of the inaugural season of the College Swimming League. Rob and Kyle have created a platform to promote the sport in a dynamic manner. We are grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to competing.”
The CSL Model and Inaugural Season
The CSL will launch its inaugural season in the Fall of 2026. The League plans to offer membership to 12 top-tier swimming universities as founding members, with possible opportunities for expansion in subsequent seasons. The full list of the 12 teams participating in the inaugural season will be announced soon.
Competition Format:
- ISL-Style Matches: Competition will feature a dynamic, team-based format modeled on the ISL, with each match involving four teams and focusing on high-energy, short course yards (SCY) racing.
- Built for Broadcast: Each match features unique and exciting events like Skins, Super Skins, and crucial Relays, guaranteeing constant excitement and strong fan engagement.
- NCAA Compliance: CSL match times will count toward NCAA Championship qualification, and the matches will officially count toward NCAA dual meet requirements.
Significant Benefits for Participating Universities
The CSL structure is designed to be fully supportive of university programs, ensuring high-level competition without placing a burden on existing athletic budgets:
- Comprehensive Cost Coverage: The CSL will provide full coverage of all travel and lodging costs for participating teams, allowing programs to compete at the highest level without straining their annual operating budget.
- Revenue Generation: The CSL will offer a pathway to generate revenue for participating university programs, establishing new, innovative sources of income.
- Enhanced Visibility: The CSL will centrally arrange and maximize sponsorship, broadcasting and high-level production for the league, raising the profile and commercial value for all participating universities through major broadcast events.
The College Swimming League is poised to usher in a new era of college sports, transforming the fall season into a high-visibility, commercially successful platform. By aligning an exciting format with a commitment to financial support and cost coverage for universities, the CSL is setting the stage to give college swimming the season—and the visibility—it truly deserves.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the CSL. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
