Ben Titley, coach at Loughborough University to three medals hopes who just missed their mark in the pool at London 2012, is to leave Britain for a new role as head of the National Swim Center Ontario in Toronto.  

Titley, coach to Fran Halsall, Lizzie Simmonds and Liam Tancock, will join Canadian swimming after spending 16 years in Loughborough, the last seven of those as senior coach at the university based Intensive Training Centre run by British Swimming.

“The last 16 years based at Loughborough University, and specifically the last seven years with British Swimming, has been an unbelievable experience for which I will always be grateful,” said Titley as he prepared to leave Britain in the midst of a review into a disappointing show at a home Games. 

It is unlikely that any new appointments will be announced in Britain until the London 2012 review is completed by late October.

British Swimming issued no statement on the Titley appointment before Canada got there first, Swimming Canada announcing:

"The national governing body for Canadian swimming announced today that Ben Titley, one of the most decorated and longest-standing British swimming coaches, has been hired has Head coach for the National Swim Center Ontario in Toronto.

“We’re very excited to welcome Ben in leading our National Swim Centre program in Toronto,” said Pierre Lafontaine, CEO of Swimming Canada.  “Ben’s strong track record at coaching international swim stars combined with his passion for the sport will help ignite our emerging Canadian talent as we strive to become a consistent top performing nation in the pool.”

 Titley will join Canadian swimming after spending 16 years in Loughborough, UK.

“I’m excited to be taking up this role with Swimming Canada which comes at a perfect time for me in terms of my family, career and next chapter in my life,” explained Titley.

“The last 16 years based at Loughborough University, and specifically the last seven years with British Swimming, has been an unbelievable experience for which I will always be grateful.”

During his time at Loughborough, Titley coached at three Olympic Games in 2004, 2008 (Head Women’s Coach) and 2012 as well as six World Championships (50m), four Commonwealth Games and numerous other major international meets.

In 2003 Titley coached James Gibson to become the first British male world champion for 28 years and along the way has won another 120 international medals at World, European and Commonwealth level with the likes of Mel Marshall, Liam Tancock, Fran Halsall, Lizzie Simmonds and Kate Haywood.

“The Canadian Sport Centre Ontario is excited to partner with Swimming Canada, The University of Toronto and Swim Ontario in the hiring of Ben Titley as the new Head Coach for the National Swim Centre Ontario, says Debbie Low, CEO of the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario.   “Given Ben’s impressive repeated track record of international success, we are very fortunate to add such a valuable asset to our coaching ranks in Ontario and Canada.”

“I’m quite keen to work with and collaborate with Ben on the performance priorities of swim Ontario,” said Dean Boles the Provincial Mentor Coach for Swim Ontario.  “I feel that in working with Ben we will identify the needs of Ontario and develop a strategy to further move Ontario Swimming onto the international podium.”

Titley will start his new role in October 2012.