Coaching and Athletic Career

• Coach Bates completed his fifth season as head coach in 2026 with the women's team gaining the best finish in program history with a fifth place overall at the NAIA Swimming & Diving National Championships. The men's team finished seventh in the nation.
• Bates coached both Evan Nail and Katherine Dyer to NAIA records and national titles in the 2026 season. TMU's women's 400 freestyle relay also set the NAIA record, shattering the previous record which had stood for 11 years. 
• In 2024, he guided Katherine Dyer to two NAIA titles in the 200 IM and 400 IM, both of which were NAIA meet records.  
• In his first season as head coach in 2022, Bates led the Mustangs to their highest national ranking in program history for both the men and women.
• Several program records were set under his leadership, including the best-ever finish by a Mustang at the NAIA Championships at the time (Emma McMurray, fourth-place 100-yard fly).
• Curren's goal is to "continue to build a program that can compete at the elite NAIA level and who’s love and commitment to Christ and Scripture is evident to everyone in the pool and on the deck."
• Co-founded Mariner Aquatic Club that coached multiple CIF qualifiers.
• Previously coached at Saugus High School.
• Swam at California Baptist University, where he won an NAIA National Championship and finished as Runner-Up.
• Multi-time CIF qualifier in four years at Hart High School, where the team finished as CIF Runner-Up his senior year.
• Bates is a five-time World Body Surfing Champion. 
• Worked five years as an LA County Beach Lifeguard and was a USLA National Lifeguard Champion.
• Graduated from TMU with a bachelor’s degree in business.
• Curren and wife Lynlee, also a graduate of TMU, have one son and another one on the way. They live locally in Newhall.