Matt Liddy, the head men’s and women’s swimming coach at Wright State the past 16 years, has been named as an assistant to the athletic director, WSU Director of Athletics Mike Cusack announced Friday.

In his new role, Liddy will work under and assume some of the duties currently held by Senior Associate Athletic Director Paul Newman, who will cut back on some of his responsibilities as he transitions toward retirement next year. Liddy will also become the Director of Aquatics and continue to oversee the programs he has been involved with for 20 years.

“Matt has done an outstanding job as coach and is now ready for a new challenge,” said Cusack. “We are very happy to give him that opportunity and are excited by what we are confident will be another successful career endeavor.”

“I am very excited about this new challenge,” said Liddy. “Although it was a tough decision, this is a great opportunity for me and my family. It is something I have been looking forward to for the past three or four years.”

“I’d like to thank Mike Cusack and Paul Newman for their support of the swimming and diving program and appreciate the opportunity they are giving me for the future,” added Liddy. “I’d also like to thank all of the former student-athletes I have coached along with all of the staff members I have been involved with through the years.”

During his 16 years as head coach, the Raiders won seven conference titles on the men’s side, including the last three Horizon League crowns, and nine on the women’s side, including three straight on two separate occasions. Liddy recorded a combined 228 dual meet wins, developed 170 individual conference champions and 65 conference relay championship teams. He was named the league’s Coach of the Year 11 times.

In the 14 years that WSU has been part of a conference under Liddy, the women’s team never finished lower than second and the men never lower than third.

Away from the pool, the College Swimming Coaches Association has honored the women’s squad for maintaining a 3.0 or higher grade point average 13 straight years and the men’s team the past five seasons.

Sion Brinn, who has served as the top assistant on Liddy’s staff the past five seasons, has been named interim head coach.

“Sion has been an outstanding assistant coach the past five years,” said Liddy. “I feel he is one of the finest young coaches in the country today and definitely ready to take over as head coach at Wright State.”

An All-American at LSU in 1994 and 1995, Brinn competed for Jamaica in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in the 100 meter freestyle and for Great Britain in the 2000 Sydney games as part of the 400 freestyle and medley relay teams. He was the 1996 U.S. Open champion in the 50 and 100 freestyle events and was runner-up in the World Cup sprint category in 1997.

Newman, who is entering his 21st year at Wright State after serving three years as a teacher and 18 years in athletics at Edinboro (PA) University, is planning to fully retire in a year.