Nesbit was part of the GB coaching set-up at the 2004 Athens Olympics

Chris Nesbit has been appointed head coach of England's swimming team for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Nesbit, who led the British squad at the short-course World Championships in 2008, has spent five years in Australia as head coach of GB's offshore centre.

"He is a well-respected coaching figure within swimming and his leadership will be critical to our success in Delhi," said British Swimming's Michael Scott.

Scottish swimming and the Welsh ASA will name their coaches in due course.

Nesbit was head coach at Portsmouth Northsea before taking over at the offshore centre on Australia's gold coast.

The centre was part of a British Swimming programme which combined training with education for 16-year-old boys on a two-year placement.

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"I've coached around 25% of the possible team at some point or another so it's great to continue the journey with them to Delhi," said Nesbit, who will work on the ASA's Beacon programme, which helps nurture the next generation of swimmers, prior to the Games.

"The Commonwealth Games are a great opportunity. For the more experienced athletes it's a great challenge while for our younger, developing swimmers it's a perfect multi-sport event to experience ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

"It's the perfect introduction to major international competition and will no doubt produce swimmers that will be serious medal contenders in 2012.

"There's no doubt it will be a tough challenge for Team England. The Australians will be there in force, Canada and South Africa are also producing some very talented athletes and the home nations always pose a real challenge.

"I've also worked with team leader John Atkinson before at the (short-course) World Championships in Manchester in 2008 and it was a very successful event for the team. We work well as a partnership and I'm excited to be a part of it again for Delhi."

The British squad won 24 medals at the event, including golds for Rebecca Adlington in the women's 800m freestyle, Liam Tancock in the men's 100m backstroke and Kristopher Gilchrist in the 200m breaststroke.

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