Sept. 23, 2008
What attracted you to the job here at Tulane?
"A couple of things attracted me to the job at Tulane. As the assistant swimming coach prior to the team's suspension, I felt a strong personal connection with this program. I had seen the swimming and diving team grow from a fledgling program to conference champions in less than two years and I jumped at the opportunity to bring this team back to life. I have always been impressed with the college experience that Tulane provides its student-athletes and I was eager to re-join the Athletic Department team."
How soon do you think the program can return to where it was prior to suspension?
"It's hard to say. The team prior to suspension was a very special and talented group of young ladies. However, re-starting the program is opening a window of opportunity for a whole new group of student-athletes. The quality of student-athletes that are interested in being a part of the 2009-2010 team is amazing. I believe that we will be competitive at the conference level in our first year of competition."
What is the best thing about working and living in New Orleans?
"The best thing about working and living in New Orleans is the people. New Orleans is so diverse and is just overflowing with culture. The people at work and around town are always friendly and happy to help the new kid."
The student-athletes at Tulane University have to balance a fine line of academic excellence and athletic prowess. Is that different for you compared to where you've been before?
"I've always set the academic bar pretty high for my student-athletes regardless of my location. The great thing about Tulane is that it attracts student-athletes that want to achieve excellence at both academics and athletics. Swimmers and Divers are generally very well balanced when it comes to managing academic and athletic excellence so this should be a pretty smooth transition for me and my new team."
Do you think your experiences as a former assistant at Tulane will help you as a head coach?
"Absolutely. I think that familiarity is a very resourceful tool in becoming a first year head coach. Although I was an assistant before, coaching at Tulane from 2004-06 gave me the experience necessary to step into head coaching. I have successfully recruited high quality student-athletes to Tulane, I know the area, and I'm familiar with our conference opponents."
You always hear that coaches try to develop student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom. As a former student-athlete yourself, how do you draw on those experience to help your future players?
"It's important to guide each athlete towards intellectual development. I'm a very process-oriented person and I believe that if you focus on doing the right thing daily- in practice, in the classroom and in your social life - the outcome of your actions will match or exceed your goals."
What are your recruiting philosophies for the next few years as you rebuild the Tulane Swimming & Diving program?
"I'm looking for student-athletes that want to succeed in the pool as well as the classroom. I only have one chance to re-start this program and I feel that our first class will set the character and personality of the years to come. With that said, I will be recruiting swimmers and divers that have a strong work ethic, good character, and lots of personality!"
What are your short and long-term goals for the Tulane swimming & diving program?
"I want to start our first season of competition as a competitive team at the conference level. A conference championship may not happen in our first year, but 2nd and 3rd are up for the taking. I really believe that sending one or more swimmers or divers to the NCAA Championships are not out of reach for us in our first and second years. Long term, we should be traveling relays to the NCAA Championships."
What is the most exciting thing about being the head swimming & diving coach at Tulane?
"The most exciting thing about being the head swimming and diving coach at Tulane is being able to start a program from the ground up in a great city with at an awesome university. Coaching is extremely rewarding and I'm able to do that with a great support system here at Tulane."
