Former Owl swimming standout Jada Hallmark has joined the Rice swimming coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach, head coach Seth Huston announced.

When Huston, now in his fifth season at Rice, began to look to add a third member to the coaching staff the search didn't need to go any further than the school's own record book. As a Rice letterwinner from 1998-2001, the former Jada Sanders set the school record in the 200-yard butterfly her senior year and posted some of the program's top times in the individual medley and 200-backstroke.

Hallmark will primarily assist with on-deck coaching duties. She joins the Owls' staff after working with the Rice Aquatics Masters program and serving as the coach of local age groups the last few years. Huston said that having an accomplished former record holder join the coaching staff is a tremendous benefit, and that being a former Rice student-athlete she gives her a unique relationship and understanding with the Owls. "I think Jada will be a big boost to the team," Huston said. "I have known her since she was 12 or 13 as an age group swimmer for Blue Tide Aquatics. I respect Jada's opinions and her competitiveness. She has remained close to the program since she graduated and always maintained a very positive and outgoing presence. Jada can certainly relate to the team members, and I am sure they can relate to her because she knows the demands of being a student-athlete here at Rice."

She is married to Patrick Hallmark of Houston, a Rice graduate and 1995 baseball letterman. He currently serves as a volunteer coach for Rice's nationally-ranked baseball program. The couple have one child, Christian, born in May of 2005.

The Rice swim opens its 2006-2007 season on the road on Friday, Oct. 13, with a dual meet against the University of Denver. The Owls will remain in the Rockies over the weekend for some high-altitude training at the National Sports Center in Colorado Springs. Rice's first home meet of the season is slated for Oct. 27 against Conference USA rival SMU.