Aug. 13, 2009
New Mexico swimming and diving head coach Tracy Ljone announced that Crystal Forbes has been named assistant coach. Forbes is the current assistant swim coach for the Lobo Aquatic Club.
“We are really excited to welcome Crystal to the Lobo family,” said Ljone. “She brings a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to the pool deck. Her strong connections with club swimming in the western states will help with recruiting. Crystal is still training at the national level and it will be good for our women to see her discipline and commitment to training. The swimmers are familiar with Crystal so it will be an easy transition.”
Forbes earned her Master’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of New Mexico in 2009 and was selected as the Outstanding Master’s of Science in the Exercise Science program for spring 2009. She earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education from New Mexico State University in 2004.
As the current assistant swim coach for the Lobo Aquatic Club, Forbes has coached numerous state record holders, state champions, zone championship finalists, and a top-10 national ranking swimmer. She was the head swim coach at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque in 2006-07, and was the assistant swim coach and head masters swim coach for the Las Cruces Aquatic Team from 2004-06. Forbes was also the student-coach for the New Mexico State swim team in 2003-04.
Forbes swam for New Mexico State from 1999-2003 where she is the school record holder in the 50-yard freestyle and 50-yard freestyle relay. She also holds the record for the Sunbelt Conference in the 50-yard freestyle. Forbes is a US National and US Open Qualifier in the sprint freestyle and breaststroke and was a US Grand Prix finalist in 2009 in the 100-yard breaststroke. As an exceptional swimmer, Forbes has broken over a dozen state records in New Mexico.
She is married to Doug Forbes, the head swim coach for the Lobo Aquatic Club. They have three dogs, Brownie, Rhino, and Hulk and one cat, Pepe.