Titley, who has worked at Loughborough for a number of years, will take up the position of head coach while Kevin Renshaw, who has guided the two-time Olympic medallist David Davies taking on the role as senior coach at the Loughborough University ITC.

 

Titley has been involved with the swimming programme at Loughborough University since 1996 and believes the introduction of the ITCs will take swimming in Britain to new heights.

 

He said: “I think the ITCs are an excellent concept and will provide opportunities for as many swimmers as possible all over the country.

 

“They will act as hubs where performance swimming is a priority and people will have the chance to buy into that.

 

“The goal going forward for Loughborough is to create one of the best swimming programmes in the world.

 

"Working alongside Kevin Renshaw and the University, the aim is to build the strongest possible team environment for performance swimming, in terms of staff, support and athletes.

 

“We want as many swimmers winning international medals as possible while nurturing and developing and 2012 prospects.”

 

British Swimming national performance director Michael Scott has been the driving force behind the implementation of the ITC network and is pleased to welcome Titley onto the programme.

 

He said: “Ben has been involved with the Loughborough programme for a number of years and has also served British Swimming in the role of national women's coach in recent times. 

 

“Ben's programme in Loughborough saw him produce four swimmers for the Beijing Olympic team with the most notable of these being Liam Tancock who, in 2008, broke the world record for 50 metres backstroke.”

 

For Scott, the ITC network has been s a priority since his arrival as it is a major component of his strategic plan for the sport from 2008 through to London 2012 and beyond.

 

British Swimming will operate ITCs at key 50m pool and training facilities at the University of Bath, Stirling, Stockport, Wales National Pool in Swansea and Loughborough University.

 

Scott said: “These centres will provide a one stop shop service point for swimmers and coaches - the aim is to provide everything they need in their development from the right amount of 50m pool time to sports science support." 

 

British Swimming’s new programme head coach Dennis Pursley believes the ITCs are a fundamental step forward for the sport and believes even greater success will follow.

 

The American said: “We are extremely excited about the ITC programme as it will give British swimmers a significant advantage over most of their competitors.

 

“There are very few training opportunities in the world of swimming that offer world class coaching, highly qualified support staff and ideal training conditions with an exclusive focus on preparation for peak performance in major international competition.

 

“Nowhere in the world will British swimmers find uncompromised training opportunities more conducive to success in major international competition than in the ITC programme."

 

Loughborough University is looking forward to building on it’s close relationship with British Swimming with the introduction of the ITC.

 

Andy Borrie, the head of performance sport at the University said: “Loughborough University is delighted to have been selected as and part of the new ITC network as well as continuing it’s role as a British Swimming National Centre of Excellence

 

“This is an extension of the effective partnership that Loughborough and British Swimming have forged over the past four years and we are looking forward to build on that heading towards the London Games in 2012.

 

“The selection of Ben Titley and Kevin Renshaw as the ITC coaches at Loughborough means that the ITC will be staffed by two world-class coaches who both have a fantastic track record in producing world class swimmers.

 

“We have great expectations for the next four years and believe that the Loughborough ITC will continue producing world champions and Olympic medallists."