Colgate Swimming Tabs Andy Waeger as New Head Coach

HAMILTON, New York, July 23. COLGATE Athletics begins a new era with Tuesday’s announcement of Andy Waeger as the Mark S. Randall Head Swimming and Diving Coach.

Waeger arrives from TCU, where he was assistant coach for the Horned Frogs for two years. He earlier served as women’s head coach at Lock Haven and as men’s and women’s head coach at Slippery Rock on the Division II level.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andy, his wife, Kim, and his son, Aiden, to our Colgate athletics family,” said Colgate Director of Athletics Victoria M. Chun ’91, MA’94. “Andy understands what it takes to lead student-athletes to excel at one of the best academic universities in the nation, while offering them a superb Division I athletic experience.

“We are extremely excited to begin this next era under his leadership.”

Waeger takes over for Fernando Canales, who left after four seasons to assume duties with the Turkish National Team.

“I would like to first thank Vicky Chun for the opportunity,” Waeger said. “I am beyond honored and grateful to be joining the Colgate University athletics department. I look forward to developing and continuing the success of our men and women both in the pool and classroom.

Waeger at TCU assisted in all phases of the Horned Frogs men’s and women’s program. He was the men’s team coordinator and overall recruiting coordinator, as well as the breaststroke and butterfly stroke group coach.

During his brief tenure in Fort Worth, Waeger helped TCU establish 30 school records and 151 top-five performances. They earned 73 All-Big 12 Conference honors, 87 NCAA “B” cut performances and eight Academic All-American honorable mentions.

Waeger also assisted in coaching TCU’s first Big 12 Conference champion and 2014 NCAA qualifier.

“In departing TCU, I cannot thank head coach Richard Sybesma enough for his support, guidance and leadership he offered me during the last two years,” Waeger said. “The team and athletics department are first class, and I have every confidence they will continue to prosper in the future.

National Success
In his seven years in charge at Lock Haven, Waeger led the program to new heights. The Lady Eagles recorded their highest ever team finish at the NCAA Championships when they took 16th place in 2010. He also worked as meet manager for the championships as LHU was the host institution.

Waeger recruited and coached Lock Haven’s first PSAC league champion and guided six student-athletes to All-America honors and six who earned honorable mention All-America placements. Included were two All-Americans who recorded bronze-medal performances at the NCAA championship meet.

After never having qualified for the NCAA championships, Lock Haven in Waeger’s final five seasons were a national point-scoring program. School records were broken 76 times and the Lady Eagles produced 15 All-Conference performances.

Waeger brings experience coaching both men’s and women’s teams and camps.
In addition, Waeger coached five Academic All-Americans and three more who received honorable mention, in addition to multiple team Academic All-America semesters.

He served one year on the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Committee before joining TCU.

Prior to Lock Haven, Waeger was at Slippery Rock University for three seasons. After serving as a graduate assistant for one year, he was elevated to head coach of both the men’s and women’s programs for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. In two years at The Rock, the team broke eight school records, produced a conference champion and two All-PSAC performances.

A native of Dublin, Ohio, Waeger started out his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater, Fairmont State College in West Virginia. He worked with distance, IM and breaststroke training groups at Fairmont State.

During his college career with the Fighting Falcons, Waeger was a four-year letterwinner. As a senior, he took the conference title in the 200 breast and 400 medley relay along with serving as a team captain. He graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in education, and in 2004 earned his master’s in sport management at Slippery Rock.

Waeger is married to the former Kim Fish of Wakefield, Rhode Island. The couple has a son, Aiden.

What They Are Saying About Andy Waeger

Sharon Taylor
Director of Athletics, retired
Lock Haven University

“Andy is a very professional young man and a very talented swim coach. He relates extraordinarily well to student-athletes and works very well with his peers.

“When Andy came to us, our program was just about on the verge of collapse. We had maybe five athletes left in the program after many had quit the year before. So he came in and turned it completely around to the point where just before he left we hosted the national championship. He put the program back into a really safe place.

“He’s going to be a really good fit at Colgate just because of the type of person he is. I’m very happy for Andy and very pleased for Colgate University.”

Richard Sybesma
Head Swimming and Diving Coach
Texas Christian University

“What a great opportunity for Andy. I am excited for him and his dream to be a Division I head coach.”

Jim Henry
Head Women’s Swimming Coach
Yale University

“Colgate University will benefit greatly with Andy Waeger leading its swimming program. He excels in connecting with his athletes and is committed to their personal growth, academic achievement and athletic success.

“I look forward to watching the Colgate program thrive in the future.”

Ed Denny
Head Women’s Swimming Coach
California University of Pennsylvania

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Andy Waeger since his freshman year in college, when I had the pleasure of being his coach for four years and the opportunity to watch his career from student-athlete now to head coach at the Division I level. Andy is very enthusiastic, innovative, driven and will do the absolute best to return Colgate men’s and women’s swimming to the top of the Patriot League.

“He is an outstanding young man. His wife, Kim, and son, Aiden, will do nothing but add to the overall success of not only the Colgate University athletic department but to Colgate University itself. I am so happy for Andy, and Colgate has made an absolutely fantastic hire.”

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com.

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