Sun Belt Conference: Southern Illinois
Head Coach: Rick Walker
Conference Finish: Men 4th     
NCAA Finish: Men N/A

The Saluki men want to challenge for the Sun Belt conference title this season after a strong 2006/2007 season, which was their first competing in the Sun Belt Conference.  The team will miss graduated seniors Case Gasparovich and divers Andy Flor and Ben Palacios. Antonio Santoro, 2007 Sun Belt Conference Swimmer of the Year, will lead a young group hoping to move up in the conference and challenge for the Sun Belt title. Santoro will team up with an up and coming squad that will be a contender at conference.

Sun Belt Conference: University of Denver
Head Coach: Brian Schrader
Conference Finish: Men 2nd  ; Women:  3rd   
NCAA Finish: Men: N/A; Women: N/A

After a very successful 2006/2007 season, reigning Men’s Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year, Brian Schrader, will look to improve upon his teams’ conference finishes. With the group of upperclassmen Coach Schrader has coming back along with his off-season recruiting coup, Schrader has set his teams up nicely to move up in the Sun Belt.  The men’s team will miss Craig Jollands and Michael Peterson.  The squad will be led by the returning conference Diver of the Year Aaron Feight.  Nathan West and Eric Wright will be the top upperclassmen coming back for the Pioneer’s distance group.   Denver will bring back an excellent IM group consisting of Daniel Vollmer, Nicolas Brunger, and Gannon Totura.  The 2007 Sun Belt 100 breast champ, Marcus Christianson, also returns to the team.    As mentioned earlier, Head Coach Brian Schrader will welcome a heralded recruiting class ranked 14th nationally.  Scott Madaras (41st ranked recruit) and Garth Summers (49th ranked recruit) are the top incoming freshmen.

On the women’s side 2007 Sun Belt Women’s Swimmer of the Year, Kelsey Totura returns after setting both backstroke event conference records.  Totura also cleared an NCAA ‘A’ standard in the 200 back, she was one of only three Sun Belt women to participate at the 2007 NCAA championships.  Olivia Dean, 400 IM Sun Belt champ, also returns to defend her title.  The Pioneers will also bring in some talented freshmen women who should help immediately.

Sun Belt Conference: University of Evansville
Head Coach: Rickey Perkins
Conference Finish: 6th    
NCAA Finish: Men: N/A

Head Coach Rickey Perkins will look for his relays and his team as a whole to get stronger this upcoming season.  The squad will have a great mix of senior leadership along with young talent which will set the squad up well for improvement.  The Purple Aces will miss Robert Maksimuk who lead the team in the sprint free and fly events.  The team’s top backstroker, James Nash, returns after a strong season.  Top 8 performer, Derek Garibaldi, will be the team’s go-to diver.

Sun Belt Conference: Florida Atlantic University
Head Coach: Steve Eckelkamp
Conference Finish: Men: 5th ; Women: 1st
NCAA Finish: Men: N/A;  Women: 28th

The Owl women are coming off a big season that culminated into another championship season, making it two in a row for the program.  Head Coach Steve Eckelkamp took home Coach of the Year honors and diving coach Ashleye Henyan took home Diving Coach of the Year.   Two-time All-American Ellie Weberg, who finaled in four events this past summer at World University Games, will leave a large void on the team after graduating this past year.  The Owls bring back the top three milers in the conference; Lauren Shue, Brittany Fabry, and Jenny Harms.  Bianca Murphy returns after winning the 100 free at conference last season.  Lindsey Alexander will also be back to defend her 200 IM crown.  The team also returns an excellent diving squad led by Lisa Thompson.

The men’s team will miss Kyle DeCicco, Christian Baker, and Eren Onurlu who all placed in the top 5 individually at the 2007 Sun Belt championships.  The team will look for its young swimmers and divers to step up in place of their graduated talent.

Sun Belt Conference: Missouri State
Head Coach: Jack Steck
Conference Finish: Men: 3rd
NCAA Finish: Men: N/A

The Bears lost nine seniors this past season and will look for their youth to make up for the departed talent.  Victor Serra, a two event champion at last season’s conference meet, will lead the charge for the young squad.  Eduardo Pajares also comes back for Missouri State and will try to defend his 400 IM title.  The team also returns most of the swimmers that comprised their very successful relays from last season. 

Sun Belt Conference: New Orleans
Head Coach: Randy Horner
Conference Finish: Women: 6th 
NCAA Finish: Women: N/A

Randy Horner replaces Ashley Tappin as head coach after the Privateers broke 8 school records at the 2007 Sun Belt championships.  The team will try to sustain their success with a roster that returns everyone from last season which sets the squad up well for moving up in the conference.  Sarah Gros comes back after she capped a successful season by qualifying top 8 in the 100 free at conference.  The Privateers top backstroker, Ashley McClelland, returns after setting the school record in the 100 back.

Sun Belt Conference: Western Kentucky
Head Coach: Bruce Marchionda
Conference Finish: Men: 1st ;Women: 2nd
NCAA Finish: Men: N/A ;Women: N/A

After a triumphant season that culminated with a team championship, The Hilltoppers will try again this season for the Sun Belt’s top prize.  The team graduates sprinters AJ Smith and Guy Simmons and the team’s top breaststroker, Travano McPhee.    This season’s team will be led by the conference’s top backstroker, Francis Gilmore, who swept both back events at the 2007 championships.  Sean Penhale returns to lead a strong distance group.   Jevon Atkinson and Lukasz Herbst come back as one of best sprint duos in conference.   Brian Lewis will be the team’s top imer.  Diver Peyton Thomas will lead the team on both boards.

The women Hilltoppers are going to have to replace a lot of seniors who led the way to the team’s 2nd place finish.   Samantha Sawzak and Megan Rames are going to be missed after taking part on the 1st place 200 free relay.   Kathryn Sutton and Pam Galvin return as the teams top IMers.   Mallory Neltner comes back as top Hilltopper sprinter.      Stephanie Terrell is the team’s top returning backstroker.