Louisville, long a hotbed of swimming talent will be getting a new team. Bellarmine University will add men's and women's swimming as NCAA Division II sports beginning this fall, and is currently conducting a search for a head coach to lead the programs.The additional teams brings the number of intercollegiate sports offered at Bellarmine to 21, all of which compete at the Division II level, except men's lacrosse, which is a Division I program.
Bellarmine plans to swim in the Great Lakes Valley Conference when the league formally approves sponsorship of the sport as the conference's 19th and 20th championships. A vote on GLVC swimming is expected at the league's spring meeting.
"As with all our sports, Bellarmine's goal is to be successful and competitive as athletes and as students,” said Dr. Joseph J. McGowan, Jr. “Our goal for our swimming teams will be no different, and that is to compete for national championships with student-athletes who are also successful in the classroom," he added.
Bellarmine officials think they can attract outstanding talent for the team relatively quickly. "Given Bellarmine's geographic location, we're in a great position to recruit from a wealth of talented programs both at the club and high school levels,” said Scott Wiegandt, director of athletics. “In fact, we're already recruiting prospective student athletes, and as a Division II program with scholarships available, we may be the perfect fit for a lot of swimmers from our region.”
Bellarmine anticipates naming a head coach as early as late March. Resumes and applications are still being considered, and candidates should visit http://www.bellarmine.edu/hr for more information.
Bellarmine's campus master plan includes a new on-campus fitness center with a swimming pool. Until that facility is constructed, the Knights will make arrangements to use other venues in Louisville.
