Eight finallists have been selected for the CollegeSwimming Assistant-Coach-of-the-Year. Finalists were selected in two categories - Established Assistant and Rising Assistant. The four finalists for this year's Established Assistant are Jennifer Betz of Kansas, Marc Christian, now at the University of Pittsburgh, Denver University's Alicia Hinken Franklin, and Georgia's longtime assistant Harvey Humphries.
Fans are encouraged to vote for their choice via Twitter. This year's award-winner will be announced next Monday. Here are brief excerpts of each coach's nominations:
Jennifer Betz
Coach Betz does do much for our student-athletes in and out of the water. In training, she coaches our team up and maximizes their talent daily. Off deck, she can lend an empathic ear when situations arise, helping our team grow and learn with each experience. Coach Betz has the gift of helping our team believe in themselves and each other. - Clark Campbell
Coach Betz is arguably one of the best recruiters in the NCAA. She is really easy to talk to and relate to and makes you feel comfortable and wanted. When the team lost our Director of Operations she fully took over the tasks that position entails with out hesitation or any hiccup. The amount of organization and skill having to handle her own job of coaching and recruiting while taking over a whole other job. - Haley Molden
Marc Christain, University of Pennsylvania (now at Pittsburgh)
First and foremost, Marc is a teacher. His lessons extend beyond the pool deck. He teaches his swimmers the meaning of teamwork, self-sacrifice, and attention to detail. The core of Marc’s personality is integrity which he exemplifies every day. He never takes a short cut, and is exactly the role model college swimmers need. - Michael Schnur
Over the course of 18 years playing organized sports I have realized that not every coach can be considered a teacher. Marc not only teaches how to feel “the catch” of the freestyle pull and how to execute the perfect break-out but more importantly teaches his athletes how to be a better teammate and a better friend. Marc would be the first person I would reach out to in a time of emotional or mental angst; before my parents, before my best friend, before anyone. -Eric Schultz
Alicia Hicken-Franklin, Denver
She has helped steward the men's and women's swimming and diving programs to their first conference championships for each gender, the first Division I All Americans for both men and women, and helped grow the program in transition from Division II to seeing the women's program being acknowledged as the #1 mid major program in the country and the men's program a perennial top 5 mid major power. - Brian Schrader
Alicia is selfless and caring. There have been many times when Alicia has forgone personal plans to help a swimmer in need. In order to get a better shot [at qualifying for NCAAs], Alicia volunteered to travel with me. We had just attended conference and we jumped aboard another plane and flew away for another week. Alicia volunteered in order to give me a second shot at my dream. -Madeline Myers
Harvey Humphries, Georgia
"To say that Harvey was instrumental in our success here at Georgia would be an understatement. Harvey is totally committed to our program and to the student athletes that are currently on and have come through the program. He is a tireless coach and recruiter and his success as a distance coach is unmatched." - Jack Bauerle
"He cares so much about us as individuals and most importantly the people we are capable of being outside of the pool. I have never once felt pressure to perform, just support when I am struggling and excitement when I succeed. He is the nicest man I have ever met, and he is incredibly knowledgeable about swimming." - Brittany MacLean
