Sean Schimmel is in his second season at the helm of the Maryland swimming and diving program. In his first season in College Park, Schimmel's squad literally re-wrote the record books, establishing an unprecedented 14 team records on the men's side and 11 on the women's. Schimmel saw four of his student-athletes land on the podium at the ACC Championships, led by a 200 fly championship from Jen Vogel. Vogel went on to garner All-America honors after finishing 14th in the event at the 2009 NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas. Other Terps that finished in the top three at the ACC Championships, hosted by Maryland, included Andrew Relihan (3rd - 200 IM), Annie Fittin (3rd - 100 back) and Alisa Kurbatova (3rd - 1-meter dive). Fittin joined Vogel at the 2009 NCAA Championships. The Maryland women's team finished fifth at the ACC Championships in Schimmel's inaugural season and also captured the Terrapin Cup Invitational. Schimmel's team also shined in the classroom, as the Collegiate Swim Coaches Association of America tabbed both the men's and women's teams as Scholar All-American Teams while Fittin was named a Scholar All-American. Six Terps were also named to the All-ACC Swimming and Diving Academic Team. Schimmel arrived in College Park after highly successful stints as the associate head coach at LSU and the top assistant at Harvard. Combined, Schimmel has coached 43 All-Americans -- first team and honorable mention -- at NCAA Championships over nine consecutive years. "It is a great honor to be named head coach at the University of Maryland," said Schimmel. "With top academics, a world-class facility and an outstanding tradition of athletic success, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. I am truly excited about the commitment Maryland Athletics has made to the program and about becoming part of the Maryland swimming and diving family." "Sean will hit the ground running, building Maryland swimming and diving into the national power we know we can become under his leadership," said Yow. "I congratulate Michael Lipitz and the entire search committee on this terrific coaching choice." Schimmel spent two seasons as associate head coach at LSU, working on the staff of Adam Schmitt as the recruiting coordinator. He helped the men's and women's teams place at NCAA Championships both years, with the women's team earning a 17th place finish in 2007. In 2008, both LSU men's and women's teams earned dual-meet rankings among the top 20 in the nation. LSU swimmers broke eight women's and 10 men's school records during his time in Baton Rouge. "Sean is ready to take Maryland up the ranks of the ACC and the NCAA," said Schmitt. "It's a tremendous opportunity for him. He'll be a great leader for the Terrapin program and its student-athletes." Prior to his joining the LSU staff, Schimmel spent seven seasons as an assistant men's coach at Harvard, where he also led recruiting efforts for head coach Tim Murphy. From 1999 to 2006, Schimmel helped the Crimson to a 61-4 dual-meet record and four conference championships, with seven All-Americans and 20 honorable mention All-Americans. Harvard was 17th as a team at the 2002 NCAA Nationals. Crimson swimmers re-wrote 14 school records during that time and Schimmel had a number of swimmers qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2000 and 2004. "Congratulations to Coach Schimmel and the University of Maryland," said Murphy. "Sean will bring renewed enthusiasm to Maryland's swimming and diving program for years to come." Schimmel joined the Harvard staff after serving as head coach at the La Canada Flintridge YMCA in California, where he coached several men and women to the YMCA National Championships. There, he managed a staff of three coaches and a 115-member swim team. As a student-athlete, Schimmel swam at Southern California (1987-91) and was a standout in the butterfly and freestyle events. He competed at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials in both the 100- and 200-meter butterfly. Schimmel graduated from USC in 1992 with a B.A. in communications. "Sean is an exceptional and thoughtful young man," said Dave Salo, current head coach at USC and a member of the Trojans' staff when Schimmel was a student-athlete. "He has the experience and the energy to lead the University of Maryland to a level of success expected by such an outstanding university." A prep All-American at Ridgewood (N.J.) High School, Schimmel's state-record mark of 1:47.39 in the 200-yard fly still stands today. After competing for the New Jersey Wave under Head Coach Frank McElroy, he also served as the team's assistant coach from 1991-92. Schimmel is married to the former Tricia Starr, and the couple has a five-year old daughter, Peyton Lilly. |
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