USA Swimming Names Billy Doughty Worlds Head Coach
Sacramento's Billy Doughty of DART Swimming will lead Team USA at the 2026 World Short Course Championships in Beijing.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Swimming
USA Swimming has named Billy Doughty head coach of Team USA for the 2026 World Short Course Championships, his first senior international coaching appointment. Assistant coaches will be announced at a later date.
Why it matters
The appointment sets the leadership for the American team heading into the December meet, where the U.S. has led the medals table in five consecutive editions. Doughty is also a member of the USA Swimming Board of Directors and chairs its National Team Steering Committee.
The 2024 Short Course Worlds saw the U.S. win 39 total medals, including 18 gold, outpacing Canada's 15 total medals. Assistant coaches for the 2026 team have not yet been announced.
The players
Billy Doughty
Doughty is head coach of DART Swimming in Sacramento and a member of the USA Swimming Board of Directors who chairs its National Team Steering Committee.
Luca Urlando
Urlando is an American swimmer who completed his collegiate career at Georgia and broke an American Record in the 200 fly at the Short Course World Championship Trials.
USA Swimming
USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States, overseeing the national team and its international appointments.
The details
Doughty, who coaches DART Swimming in Sacramento, was named through a USA Swimming appointment for Team USA. The announcement comes as swimmer Luca Urlando made the team at the Short Course World Championship Trials, breaking an American Record in the 200 fly.
Timeline
Spring 2026: Urlando completed his collegiate career at Georgia and withdrew from the NCAA Championships.
Last week: Urlando broke the American Record at the Short Course World Championship Trials.
Last week: DART Swimming was named a Silver Medal Club in the USA Swimming Club Excellence Program.
December 1-6, 2026: The 2026 World Short Course Championships take place in Beijing, China.
Season Trajectory
The U.S. has topped the medals table at five straight Short Course World Championships, and the 2026 meet in Beijing will test whether that streak continues. Doughty's appointment carries the program into that effort as the American team looks to hold its position against Canada and other rivals.
Fans following the national team can track the December 1-6 meet in Beijing, where the U.S. is aiming to extend its run of medal-table leadership. The coaching staff's assistants, still to be named, will shape the roster's day-to-day preparation.
The takeaway
Leadership changes at the national level often signal how a team will prepare for the next major meet. Readers following American swimming should watch for the assistant coach announcements that will complete the staff.
What happens next
Assistant coaches for Team USA will be named at a later date ahead of the December 1-6, 2026 World Short Course Championships in Beijing.
Further reading
For more on the sport and national program, browse the Swimming section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwimSwam.
