BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons Swimming Head Coach Mindy Williams was named the 2013 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Swimming Coach of the Year announced Thursday by the conference. In just her fifth season at Simmons, this is the second time Williams has received this award from her peers.
The Sharks have had tremendous success since Williams took hold of the program in 2008, winning five consecutive GNAC Swimming and Diving Championships with a growing number of athletes qualifying for the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championships each year.
At the 2012 GNAC Championship, the Sharks set five new GNAC records including the 200 Free Relay of Amy Davis (Southbury, Conn.), Chloe Davis (Merrimack, N.H.), Maddy McDonald (Westwood, Mass.) and Jen Collins (Trumbull, Conn.), the 200 IM, 200 Free and 100 Free by Collins and the 800 Free Relay of McDonald, A. Davis, C. Davis, and Collins. The 200 Free Relay also broke the Simmons Pool record set in 2011.
After several fast meets in second half of the season, the Sharks had 14 swimmers qualify for the 2013 NEISDA Championships, a program most during Williams' tenure. Four of the team's five relays finished in the top eight and the 200 Free Relay of C. Davis, Joleigh Ferro (Pittsfield, Mass.), A. Davis, McDonald and the 400 Medley Relay of C. Davis, Liz Zamagni (Chelmsford, Mass.), A. Davis, and McDonald set new school records with a 6th and 7th place finish, respectively. In individual competition, freshman Maddy McDonald scored 59 points for the Sharks and finished in the top eight in two of her three events and eight Sharks finished in the top 16 of their respective events.
"Simmons is so pleased to see Mindy receive the 2013 GNAC Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year award. She has earned tremendous respect of not only her peers around the conference, but also from every Simmons student athlete. Her dedication and commitment to Simmons Swimming & Diving is extraordinary, and her leadership around the conference to enhance the sport is unparalleled. Mindy is an exceptional professional," said Simmons Director of Athletics Ali Kantor.