Anderson University has named Conner Snare to be the athletic program's first head coach for men's and women's swimming. The school announced in May it would add men's and women's swimming beginning the fall of 2016.
Snare was a four-year NCAA Division I swimmer at Ball State University. He was a senior captain, four-year Coach's Award winner and the Cardinals' Mental Attitude Award recipient as a junior. He has been involved in coaching swimming at the club level since 2011. He has coached at the Northwest Aquatics Club, Park Forest Swim Club and Pine Valley Country Club.
"We are excited to have Connor as our first men's and women's swim coach," said Dr. Brent Baker, vice president for Student Affairs at Anderson University. "He brings experience as a competitive swimmer at the highest collegiate level, coaching experience with a number of different age groups and is a wonderful fit with Anderson University. We look forward to the work he will do as we prepare for our first varsity season in 2016."
Graduating with high honors from Ball State, Snare was an active member and executive board chair in SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee). He was also part of Athletes In Action and its leadership council.
"I'm excited to bring Coach Snare on board to be the first head coach of men's and women's swimming," said AU athletic director Marcie Taylor. "Connor's NCAA D-I training and competitive experiences, coupled with a strong desire to recruit and mentor student-athletes in their faith makes him uniquely qualified to build a strong foundation for the new swim programs."
With the addition of the swim programs, Anderson will sponsor 18 NCAA sports for the 2016-17 school year. The number will grow to 20 in the fall of 2017 with the start of men's and women's lacrosse. Bennett Natatorium will serve as the home for the Anderson University swim team. AU will be the fifth university in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference to offer swimming.
"I would just like to say how blessed and thankful I am for the opportunity to pursue coaching at the collegiate level, and at an institution as prestigious and well-respected as Anderson University," said Snare. "I am incredibly excited to be a part of such an exciting time for Anderson Athletics, and I am looking forward to seeing how the program grows and brings more attention to the university in the coming years. I appreciate all of the support that I have received already from not only the Athletic Department, but the campus as a whole; and as always, Go Ravens!"
