Ron Allen, South Dakota Head Coach, Resigns

VERMILLION, South Dakota, March 25. UNIVERSITY of South Dakota head men's and women's swimming coach Ron Allen has resigned his position after 14 years at the university, according to an announcement today by Athletic Director Joel Nielsen.

Diving Coach/Aquatics Coordinator Michael Ellerbruch has been named interim head swimming coach for the Coyotes. A national search for Allen's replacement will begin immediately.

"We are grateful to Coach Allen for the many contributions he has made to our University, student-athletes and Coyote Athletics over the past 14 years," said Nielsen. "We wish him the best of luck in the future."

During his tenure at South Dakota, Allen coached 57 North Central Conference individual or relay champions and guided the USD men's team to 10 national top-10 finishes, as well as two men's NCC team titles.

This season, the Coyote men's and women's team had six All-Americans (79 overall during Allen's tenure) with the men's team finishing 13th and the women's team, 16th, at the 2005 Division II championships. Allen has also earned NCC Coach of the Year honors for both the men's and women's programs.

"I feel very proud about the accomplishments of this program," said Allen. "We have a solid group of student-athletes in place and I believe they will continue to excel at the conference and national levels. I want to thank the student-athletes for their dedication and commitment to excellence."

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