Defining Excellence: A Conversation with University of Illinois Head Coach Jeana Kempe
- Feb 18
- 2 min read
In the latest episode of the Get Out Swim podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jeana Kempe, the head coach of the University of Illinois women’s swimming and diving program. Jeana’s journey in the sport is a masterclass in persistence, from her early days as a military kid in Colorado to competing at UCLA and eventually returning to her home state of Illinois to lead a Big Ten program. Having had the privilege of being coached by Jeana during my time at LSU, it was a special experience to reconnect and discuss her philosophy on leadership, mentorship, and the future of Fighting Illini swimming.
One of the most resonant themes of our conversation was the power of mentorship. Jeana spoke candidly about the coaches who shaped her career, including legendary figures like Cindy Gallagher at UCLA and Andy Johns at Northern Arizona University. She highlighted how critical it is for young coaches to find mentors who allow them to "fly while holding their wings"—providing the freedom to experiment with sets and season planning while offering a safety net of feedback. This collaborative spirit is something Jeana has carried into her own staff at Illinois, where she emphasizes a flat hierarchy and empowers her assistants to take ownership of their respective training groups.
When it comes to the "secret sauce" of her coaching, Jeana points directly to the relationship-driven nature of her program. She shared a memory—one I remember vividly as an athlete—of a time she could sense I was struggling emotionally during a grueling set. Instead of more yelling, she offered a simple hand on the shoulder and a word of encouragement. As a head coach today, she maintains that if you believe in what you are doing and foster a genuine connection with your athletes, they will always find a way to succeed. This "people-first" approach is exactly how she is transforming the competitive culture at Illinois.
We also delved into the specifics of "Swimming Smart." For Coach Kempe, swimming smart means being intentional and "keeping the main thing the main thing." Whether it’s their famous "100 x 100s" partner set after Christmas or their recovery-focused "Yoga Thursdays," every minute in the water has a metabolic and psychological purpose. She isn't interested in just working hard for the sake of working hard; she wants her athletes to understand the why behind the work so they can execute with confidence when they step onto the blocks.
As Jeana enters her fourth year at the helm, the results are speaking for themselves. The program is systematically rewriting its record books, with the goal of breaking every relay and individual school record by the end of year five. But beyond the times on the scoreboard, Jeana is most proud of building a program where "Illinois kids" can stay home and compete at the highest level. It was an inspiring look at what it takes to build a legacy, and I can't wait to see what the Fighting Illini accomplish at the Big Ten Championships this year.
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