Josh Garner spent the last two seasons working as a graduate assistant swimming coach at the University of Virginia while pursuing a master's degree in sports psychology at the Curry School of Education. During his time with the UVA swim team he assisted with the distance and IM and stroke groups, and help implement some sport psychology education for the team. The men’s teams won their 7th and 8th consecutive ACC titles, while the women were runner up both years. Both teams sent numerous swimmers to NCAA competition.

While pursuing his master’s degree he has taken classes in educational psychology, sport psychology, and kinesiology while working under one of the most respected researchers in the field of sport psychology. He also taught the intermediate and advanced swimming and weight training classes in the physical education department.

During this time he has also worked with the Schroeder YMCA (WI) swim team assisting with coaching and sport psychology education of the national level swimmers. Garner spent the 2003-04 season as an assistant swimming coach at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. His responsibilities included strength training and coordinating all recruiting. Garner specialized in coaching the distance swimmers. Garner has also coached at the University of Virginia Swim Camp this summer, Kenyon Total Performance Swim Camp during the summer of 2004 and the Peak Performance Swim Camp in the summer of 2003.

Garner swam for four years at Connecticut College, where he graduated with honors in 2003 with a degree in psychology.