Albertson College of Idaho athletic director Marty Holly announced today the hiring of Mary Parsons as the new men's and women's swimming coach.

Parsons replaces Mike Shines, who coached the Coyotes for the past three seasons - leading ACI to back-to-back Top-15 finishes at the NAIA Championships. Shines will remain the Director of the J.A. Albertson Aquatics Center and serve as ACI's strength coach.

"I am honored to become the coach of the Coyotes," said Parsons. "It will be great to get back into the college atmosphere and I look forward to inspiring the student-athletes to meet their goals and have fun."

A native of Caldwell, Parsons had a decorated collegiate career at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, holding the school record in the 100-butterfly (59.78) for 23 years. She was a five-time NAIA All-American, placing second in the 100-fly, fifth in the 200-fly, and seventh in the 200-medley at the 1983 NAIA Championships, while swimming as a member of the Western Conference of Individual Colleges All-Star team.

Parsons last coached at Crescenta Valley High School in California, but has spent much of the last two decades coaching her family. She and husband, Lee, have three children - Hailey (19), Basil (17), and Richard (15). "I have really worked hard coaching my family - and now I'll have a chance to work with a new family, the Coyotes."

The Yotes return four men's and four women's swimmers who competed at last year's NAIA Championships for the 2007-08 season. ACI opens up their dual meet schedule on October 13 at Whitworth College.