USC's Crossen Off to Irvine

Dave Salo, General Manager of the Novaquatics Swim Team and head coach of Southern Cal announced today the appointment of Adam Crossen to the position of Associate Head Coach of the Novaquatics program based on the campus of Soka University. Crossen joins Jeri Marshburn (Los Cab), Ken Lamont (Northwood HS), Andi Kawamoto-Klatt and Rod Hansen (Woollett) under the continued leadership of General Manager Salo to form the backbone of the coaching leadership with the Novaquatics.

Crossen will be leaving the University of Southern California where he served this past season as Salo's assistant coach with the Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving team. Up until this past season Crossen served as Assistant Senior Coach with the Novaquatics program with a dual appointment with Soka University in the capacity of assistant coach of the men's and women's swimming teams.

"Adam is by far one of the most experienced coaches in the country," commented Salo. "He is eager to take more of a leadership role and as Associate Head Coach on the Soka campus, Adam will be instrumental in the further development and growth of the Novaquatics program. He will be the man in charge at Soka."

Crossen's experience includes working with four Olympic Coaches over the past 12 years including Mark Schubert, Dave Marsh, Teri McKeever and most recently Salo. Crossen swam for the Hall of Fame legend, Mark Schubert, at the University of Southern California, then followed that up with a stint at Auburn University working with perennial NCAA Coach of the Year, Dave Marsh, while completing his Master's degree in exercise physiology. Crossen later went on to serve as Assistant Coach at Cal Berkeley under ASCA Coach of the Year, Teri McKeever, during the period that saw the rise of USA Swimming phenom, Natalie Coughlin.

Prior to his year with USC, Crossen served 4 years with Coach Salo with the Novaquatics and Soka University and was integral in working with a team that saw 25 athletes compete at the 2004 USA Olympic Trials while placing four NOVA team members on the USA Olympic Team. Crossen was also instrumental in helping Salo inaugurate the Soka University Varsity Swimming Team which competes in the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference (PCSC).

This past season Crossen was Salo's right hand man in his first year as Head Coach of the USC program where Crossen was responsible for NCAA compliance, recruiting coordination as well as strength and conditioning programming as well as on-deck coaching. USC came away from Salo's first season with three individual NCAA Championships (Rebecca Soni - 200 breaststroke; Larsen Jensen - 500 & 1650 freestyle).

"As I told Adam last week, selfishly I want him to stay at USC because he allows me to be a better coach. But professionally, the opportunity with NOVA and Soka will allow him to grow as a coach and continue to grow the NOVA program which he has a proud relationship with."

Adam will leave his position with USC within the next few weeks to take on his new role with NOVA and Soka University. He will be responsible for the Senior program at Soka and the development of a larger age group program at the Soka site. Among Adam's responsibilities will be the coordination of all Senior level travel (Junior Nationals, Nationals, etc). He will also oversee the continued development of the NOVA Swim School on the Soka campus.

As General Manager, Coach Salo will continue to meet with the Associate Head Coaches and Head Age Group Coaches to forge the strategies for the continued growth and development of the Novaquatics Swim Team.