James Malechek joined the University of Iowa Athletic Performance staff in 2026, bringing extensive experience working with Olympic medalists, world champions, and world-record holders, along with a strong background in collegiate wrestling and professional sports performance.

Prior to joining the Hawkeyes, Malechek spent seven years with China’s national and provincial swimming programs. From 2018 to 2024, he served as Head Performance Coach and Dryland Trainer for the Chinese National Swimming Team, working with athletes who collectively earned 11 Olympic medals (three gold, three silver, and five bronze), seven World Championship titles, and set three world records during his tenure. In 2025, he served as Head Performance Coach for the Guangdong Swimming Association.

Malechek previously served as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League and completed a fellowship with the University of Michigan’s Olympic Sports Performance Department. Most recently, he worked as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida.

A former collegiate wrestler, Malechek was a four-year starter at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, earning NCAA Division II All-America honors in 2012. He also gained coaching experience at Lindenwood University and Kenosha Tremper High School in Wisconsin.

A native of Kewaunee, Wisconsin, Malechek earned his bachelor’s degree in Sport Fitness Management from the University of Wisconsin–Parkside in 2013 and his master’s degree in Human Performance, with an emphasis in Strength and Conditioning, from Lindenwood University in 2015. He holds CSCS, RSCC, TSAC-F, and FMS certifications.