Pitt sprinter Julian Koch announced on Wednesday that he is transferring to the University of Tennessee, bringing two remaining years of eligibility after beginning his college career with the Panthers.
The 20-year-old entered the transfer portal in early April shortly after an impressive showing at the 2026 Men’s NCAA Championships, where he reached two individual finals, set personal bests, and broke multiple Pitt records.
Although there was speculation linking him to programs like Texas, Arizona State, and Florida, Koch ultimately chose Tennessee, a school that has built a strong reputation in sprint freestyle and butterfly events in recent years, highlighted by stars like Jordan Crooks and Gui Caribe.
With Caribe set to graduate, Koch is expected to step into a key role for the Vols. Caribe had been a major contributor, excelling individually and anchoring relay teams, and Tennessee will now look to Koch to help fill that gap.
Koch enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, rewriting Pitt’s record books in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle as well as the 100 butterfly. His top NCAA performance came in the 100 free, where he placed fourth with a personal-best 40.43 after leading prelims, while also earning points in the 50 free and 100 fly.
He also played a major role in Pitt’s relay success, setting school records in multiple events. Earlier in the season at the ACC Championships, Koch delivered strong finishes across sprint events, showing his consistency at a high level.
After significant improvement from his freshman year, where he did not qualify for NCAAs, Koch now arrives at Tennessee poised to take on a leading role in both individual and relay events.
Looking ahead to the 2026–27 season, he is expected to be a key piece of Tennessee’s sprint relay groups. The Vols are coming off a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships and return much of their scoring core, making Koch an important addition as they aim to remain among the nation’s elite.
