Jonathan Lau is entering his ninth season as Lindenwood University’s assistant men’s and women’s swimming coach in 2019-20. He has been with the program in several roles since 2004.
Lau has been instrumental in Lindenwood’s climb to NCAA Division II national prowess after transitioning from the NAIA. Since Lindenwood’s first season in Division II (2013-14), the Lions have collected 76 All-American (Top 8) recognitions, 8 individual NCAA national championships, and set 4 NCAA national records. The team has captured 6 conference team championships (Men 2017, 2015, 2014, Women 2019, 2018, 2017) along with 9 top-10 NCAA team finishes in that span.
NCAA National Champions
Simone de Rijcke – 200 Free (2018)
Serghei Golban – 50 Free (2017), 50 Free (2016), 100 Free (2016), 100 Back (2016)
Alecia McGillivray – 1000 Free (2015), 1650 Free (2015)
Kryzysztof Jankiewicz – 100 Back (2015)
Lau’s inaugural season as an assistant coach was during the 2011-12 campaign. That year the men’s team won their third straight Liberal Arts Conference Championship. Lindenwood swept the four Swimmer and Diver of the Meet awards while setting 17 championship records.
From 2009 to 2011, Lau served as a graduate assistant coach at Lindenwood working with the IM, middle-distance, and distance swimmers. During that time the men’s team secured 3rd place NAIA National Championships finishes in 2010 and 2011. During this period, Lau’s athletes set 64 school records, gathered 9 NAIA All-American (Top 3) nods, captured 3 individual national championships (Sarah Billiamosa, Javier Hernandez, Sergio Molina), and set 1 NAIA national record (200 Fly Hernandez). Lau began his collegiate coaching career as an undergraduate assistant coach training the IM athletes with Lindenwood during the 2008-09 season.
As a student-athlete for the Lions from 2004-08, Lau was a 6-time NAIA All-American. He was a member of Lindenwood’s first relay national championship in program history (400 medley 2006). In 2016, this relay was inducted into the Lindenwood Athletics Hall of Fame. Lau was the first athlete in program history to earn All-American recognitions during each of his four seasons. He served as the men’s team captain from 2005 to 2008 and held school records in the 100 & 200 fly, 200 IM, 200 & 400 medley relay, and 200 free relay.
Lau has been an assistant coach at the University of Texas Longhorn Swim Camp (summer 2011 and 2013-2018). He has worked closely with Olympic Coach Eddie Reese and Carol Capitani, along with Olympic gold medalists and former world record holders Ian Crocker, Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Ricky Berens, Garrett Weber-Gale, and Josh Davis.
Lau also has experience coaching at the Indiana University Swim Camp (summer 2018 & 2019) working with Olympic Coaches Ray Looze, Mike Westphal, and Coley Stickels.
In the summer of 2019, Lau served as a USA Swimming Sport Development Camp Assistant Manager at the Southern Zone Select Camp (University of Louisville).
Lau earned his BS in Biology from Lindenwood in 2009. He also earned his MS in Health Management from Lindenwood in 2010 and MBA degree in 2012. Lau is a certified Level 4 Coach with the American Swimming Coaches Association.
An avid US Masters swimmer, Lau is a 2-time national champion in the 400 IM (24-29 age group, 2013) & 100 fly (30-34, 2016). His wife Amanda is also a Lindenwood swimming alumnus and current assistant coach.
