Allegheny College swimming and diving head coach Kirk Kumbier has announced the hiring of Kayla McCormick as an assistant coach.
McCormick arrives in Meadville from Minnesota State University, Mankato where she spent two years as a volunteer coach for the women’s swimming and diving program. She specialized in coaching sprint, freestyle, and butterfly, and helped design dry-land conditioning workouts for the entire team. The Mavericks sent a number of swimmers to the NCAA Division II Championships over the past two seasons, and had All-Americans in 2015 and 2016, the first two since the 2010-11 campaign.
“We are thrilled to have Kayla joining us at Allegheny this season,” said Kumbier. “Kayla's competitive and coaching experience from the Division I and II levels, and her connections with and love for the Division III philosophy and our team approach will continue to enhance our culture and tradition as we focus on both high-level academics and athletics.”
The Caledonia, Minnesota native swam collegiately at Division I University of Northern Iowa, where she was a four-year letter winner and team captain during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. Twice she garnered Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Swimming & Diving Scholar Athlete accolades, adding the Leadership and Service Award from the league in 2014 along with a nomination for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. McCormick also collected a trio of honors in 2014 with the Lux Award and Women at Play Scholarship from Northern Iowa, as well as the MVC Presidential Academic Excellence Award. Recently, she received the Jean Freeman Scholarship by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) and SUMMIT, which is given to one male and one female from each division of the NCAA.
“Kayla’s work at Minnesota State and her opportunity to attend the CSCAA convention with the Jean Freeman Scholarship this year speak to her ability as a coach and character as a person,” continued Kumbier. “Knowing that each year only six assistant coaches in the NCAA earn this honor, always the best rising coaches, speaks volumes.”
McCormick just finished working the Bauerle Bulldog Swim Camp at the University of Georgia, and has previously coached novice and age group swimmers at Black Hawk Area Swim Team (BLAST) in Cedar Falls, Iowa from 2013-14. She served as a coach, instructor, and lifeguard for the Lakeville Family Swim School in Lakeville, Minnesota in 2012 and grew up swimming for the La Crosse, Wisconsin YMCA Wave swim team.
"Her background with exercise science and psychology will fit perfectly with our goals for both the conference and NCAA National levels as well as our commitment to positive team dynamics and student-athlete experiences,” added Kumbier. “Maybe most importantly, she brings a wealth of drive, confidence, enthusiasm, and belief in positive work in her community outside the water as a person. We look forward to welcoming Kayla into the Gator family.”
McCormick graduated from Northern Iowa in 2014 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in movement and exercise science with a double emphasis in exercise science and sport psychology as well as a minor in coaching. She recently received her Master of Arts degree in sport and exercise psychology from MSU-Mankato.
