Simmons Head Swimming & Diving Coach Mindy Williams has been named Great Northeast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in just her first season leading the Sharks.

At the close of 2008, Williams led the Simmons squad to their fifth GNAC Championship title in a row, and in 2009 took the largest group of qualifiers to the New England Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in program history, where the team finished 11th of 22 teams.

"Mindy Williams is a rising star. I am not surprised she has received this honor from her peers in the conference and am excited to see the recognition she so deserves," said Director of Athletics Ali Kantor. "Mindy has taken over a program with a long history and has made a strong improvement. I anticipate great things from Simmons Swimming and Diving in the years to come."

Williams took the helm of the Simmons program in the summer of 2008 after the retirement of 11-year Head Coach Doug Backlund. She came to Simmons after spending several years as an assistant coach at Macalester College and Head Coach at Regis College in Weston, Mass., where her teams displayed excellence in the pool and in the classroom, garnering academic All-American team honors each of the last three seasons.

She is a graduate of Colby College, where she was a two-time captain, and twice an NCAA qualifier. She earned All-NESCAC honors three times, in the 1650 free, 500 free, and 200 free relay.