Coaches at three Division III programs have stepped aside. Andrew Multerer (Carroll University), Jeff Smith (Millikin University) and Natalie Koukis (Wittenberg) will not be returning for the 2016-17 season.
Multerer was named Midwest Conference Women's Coach of the Year this year. The five-year veteran rebuilt the Pioneers from a struggling program to one that now boasts over sixty swimmers and divers on its roster. He did it all while serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at MBW Manufacturing. This year the Pioneer women finished as runner-ups in the 9-team field while the CU men were 3rd-of-9. Next year Carroll will move back into the CCIW Conference.
While Carroll will be joining the CCIW, Millikin's Jeff Smith will be departing it. Smith spent three seasons as head coach of his alma mater. This year Smith led the Big Blue to four school records and helped Caroline Lodovisi earn CCIW Rookie of the Meet honors. Prior to returning to Millikin Smith was the Head Coach of the Decatur Swim Club and served as Millikin’s assistant swim coach for the 2012-13 season. In 2011-12, Smith was the assistant swim coach at Dunlap High School helping the girls’ team to a sectional championship. Smith also coached with the Dunlap Dolphins. Smith has coached multiple IHSA and Illinois Swimming state qualifiers.
At Wittenberg, Koukis is stepping down after twelve years at the helm. Koukis garnered NCAC Women's Coach of the Year honors in 2006 with min's honors following two years later. Koukis had led the Tigers to as high as third in the ultra-competitive NCAA. This year, however, the Tigers slipped to sixth on both sides. Koukis came to Wittenberg after two years as head men's and women's swimming and diving coach, director of aquatics and instructor of physical education at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. During her time at WPI, Koukis led both the men's and women's teams to their highest finishes ever in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference.