Royals Make Waves: Johnson Launches Swim Program, Hires Eboni McCarty
(Story provided by Johnson Sports Communications)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Johnson University is making waves with the addition of a brand-new varsity sport, officially announcing the launch of its first-ever swim program. The historic move marks an exciting step forward for the Royals' athletic department, expanding opportunities for student-athletes and bringing a new level of energy to campus.
Leading the program into its inaugural season is head coach Eboni McCarty, whose experience at the highest level of collegiate swimming positions her to build the program from the ground up.
McCarty competed at the University of Georgia, where she established herself as one of the program's top performers. During her time with the Bulldogs, she earned multiple CSCAA All-America honors across individual and relay events, including standout performances in the 100 backstroke and freestyle relays. She competed at the NCAA Championships throughout her career, highlighted by a 10th-place finish in the 100 backstroke and multiple top-16 relay finishes. She also found success in the SEC, earning All-SEC recognition and contributing to several podium relay finishes while making an impact in the classroom with academic honors.
Following her collegiate career, McCarty found herself searching for direction after stepping away from competition. That changed in the summer of 2025 when she took on a coaching role with a small team in Georgia. What started as a way to stay connected to the sport quickly turned into a calling, as she discovered a passion for mentoring young athletes and giving back through swimming. That experience, along with continued coaching opportunities back in Alabama, solidified her desire to pursue coaching full-time.
"I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Johnson Royals Staff as the new swim coach." McCarty says, "I pray that I can make a lasting impact on the new swim program athletically, socially, and spiritually."
"We're excited to welcome Eboni to lead our new swim program." Brandon Perry comments, "We have been considering starting a swim team since the Graham Center was built. We have a beautiful swimming facility, and it only makes sense to launch this program. But we needed the right person to get it started, and I believe we found that in Coach McCarty. Her high-level experience and passion for developing student-athletes makes her a great fit to build something special at Johnson. If you are a swimmer, you should really watch what is about to happen here, as I think Coach McCarty is going to build something special you might want to be a part of."
The addition of swim signals a new era for Johnson Athletics, one rooted in growth, opportunity, and vision. With an accomplished leader at the head and a program starting from scratch, the Royals are set to dive into an exciting future.