James Madison University women’s swimming and diving head coach Samantha Smith has announced the hiring of Dane Pedersen as the program’s assistant coach, starting in the 2007-08 season.

“I can’t begin to explain how excited I am about being at JMU,” Pedersen stated upon his hiring.  “I feel very fortunate to be involved with a program that is entering a new era.  I feel like the next few years are going to be huge for this program and only great things are on the horizon for JMU swimming and diving.  I am anxious to meet and get to know all the ladies on the team and to begin coaching them.”

Pedersen competed four years for the University of Missouri of the Big XII Conference from 1999 to 2003.  In his first two seasons, he set school records in the 1,000- and 1,650-meter freestyles.  His marks currently rank third all-time in both events.  Pedersen was named Big XII All-Conference in three of his four seasons and was a four-year member of the All-Academic squad.

After his collegiate career, Pedersen remained in Columbia as a graduate assistant for the Tigers swimming program from 2004 to 2007.  Both the men’s and women’s programs were ranked in the top 25 during his tenure.  In his first season, three school records fell.  By his third season in 2006-07, 26 school records were broken.  In addition, three athletes reached the NCAA cuts in year one, whereas 19 made the cut in his third season.  Pedersen worked primarily with the distance and middle-distance swimmers while also assisting in all areas of recruiting.

Pedersen is looking forward to the next stop in his coaching career.  “I think JMU is a wonderful, challenging school in a great town in Harrisonburg.  I feel like this school and program are the complete package for potential and current student athletes.  I knew this was the place I wanted to coach as soon as I arrived.”  

Originally from Brandon, Mississippi, Pedersen graduated from the University of Missouri in 2004 with bachelors degrees in English and communications.  He went on to receive his masters from UM in English education in 2007.