Saint Leo Names Paul Mangen Head Swim Coach

SAINT LEO, Florida, May 2. SAINT Leo University Director of Athletics Francis X. Reidy announced the addition of Paul Mangen to the Lions' coaching staff on Friday afternoon as he has been tabbed the new head men's and women's swim coach. Mangen comes to Saint Leo after a serving as assistant swimming and diving coach as well as the recruiting coordinator for Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

"While we had many outstanding candidates, Paul's ability to articulate a vision for our program is what separated him from the others," Reidy said. "We are excited to have someone with such a strong background to lead our program. He was All -American at a small Catholic College, head coach at a Division II school in our conference and has Division I recruiting experience."

Mangen will take over as just the second head coach in the four year history of the program. Coming from Wright State, the Celina, Ohio native has an extensive coaching resume despite being just six years removed from collegiate competition.

A 2003 graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W.V, Mangen was a 14-time Bluegrass Mountain Conference Champion and was named the 2003 BMC Swimmer of the Year before jumping into the coaching ranks as the head swim coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, W.V. He was also an eight-time NCAA All-America selection.

After three years at W.V. Wesleyan, Mangen moved up to the Division I ranks as he assumed his duties at Wright State. He also mixed teaching duties and aquatics director responsibilities into his daily schedule prior to moving to Saint Leo.

"I am very excited and honored to continue my professional coaching career at Saint Leo University," an excited Mangen said. "This is a young program that is a part of a very professional and well run athletic department. With that being said, the framework is in place for a successful swimming program. A wise man once said that there is no substitute for hard work and that will be the cornerstone of this program, hard work."

Another focal point for the newest Lions' coach will be in developing the student-athletes in the classroom as well as in the water. Mangen was a two-year recipient of NCAA Academic All-America honors and was the 2003 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

He is no stranger to overseeing successful athletes as Mangen has worked with numerous Olympic qualifiers, All-America winners, conference champions and 41 school record holders.

"What impresses me the most about Saint Leo is the amount of personal pride that everyone, from the administrators down to the students, have in their work and how Saint Leo facilitates that part of their lives," Mangen added. "It is a lot easier to promote a place that you truly believe in and it is a great honor to now be a part of such an institution."

Mangen will begin his coaching duties on May 4th as he will get on the recruiting trail and begin building the 2009 Saint Leo men's and women's swim teams. The 2009-2010 swim season will begin in October.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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