Steve Jungbluth Appointed Associate Head Coach for Florida Gators

Photo Courtesy: Dan D'Addona

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida men’s swimming and diving Head Coach Anthony Nesty announced the appointment of Steve Jungbluth to associate head coach on Monday. Steve Jungbluth enters his ninth season as coach for the Gators in 2018-19. Jungbluth has specialized in working with the sprinters.

BREAKING NEWS: Coach Jungbluth named the associate head coach for men’s swimming & diving. #GoGators #GatorNation https://t.co/4CXT64Y4AX

— Gators Swimming & Diving (@GatorsSwimDv) July 5, 2018

“I am fortunate and thankful to have Steve as my Associate Head Coach. He has been instrumental in the development of our Sprint Program and I believe he has abundant talent to offer our Men’s Program in the other disciplines of the sport. Steve and I are both eager to be working together and we look forward to the challenge. We are extremely positive about the future of our Men’s Swimming and Diving Program,” said Coach Nesty.

During his previous eight seasons, the Gators have compiled 454 All-America honors and produced 19 NCAA Champions as individuals and on relays. Jungbluth accumulated 77 SEC Championships from individuals and relay teams.

“I would like to thank Coach Nesty for putting his faith in me. I am honored to work for him and for the Florida Gators. I have been privileged to work here for the past eight years and to be a small part of the many successes in the Gator program during the Coach Troy era,” stated Jungbluth.

The sprinters at UF have flourished with the guidance of Coach Jungbluth. He has worked with the top three females in program history in the 50 free and the top two female butterfliers in school history. On the men’s side, he has coached seven of the Top-10 male sprinters (50 free), four of the Top-10 sprint butterfliers, and three of the Top-10 sprint backstrokers in Florida history.

The 4X50 free relay broke the UF records in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, while securing a National Championship in 2018 for the first time in program history, with Jungbluth’s help. Jungbluth transformed Brad DeBorde, former walk-on, into a 20-time All-American. Under Jungbluth’s tutelage, DeBorde broke the UF record in the 50 free six times and was the first swimmer under 19.00 in the 50 free.

At the 2012 NCAA Championship meet, Sarah Bateman became the first Florida Gator to dip under the 22.00 mark in the 50 free, doing so three times and breaking the UF record twice. In 2014, Natalie Hinds then broke that record going 21.66 at the NCAA Championship meet, her fifth time under the 22.0 mark. Natalie set UF records in the 100 freestyle on eight occasions, with her fastest mark (47.19) coming in 2015 at the NCAA Championship meet. She finished her UF career placing no lower than 6th at the NCAA Championship meet in the 100 freestyle.

Jungbluth coached Caeleb Dressel, from 2014-15 through 2017-18, who holds the Top 10 fastest times in the United States as well as the NCAA in the 50 free. Dressel holds seven of the Top-10 times in the 100 free.

Before his time in Gainesville, Jungbluth spent seven seasons (2003-10) as the head coach at Colgate, where he led the Raiders to the top of the Patriot League. His women’s squads won the league title in two of his last three seasons in Hamilton, N.Y.

In the 2008-09 season, his women’s team cruised to its second consecutive conference crown and the second-highest point total ever generated in the three-day event. At that meet, Colgate won titles in 14 of 18 swimming events, set 18 team records, and 14 meet records. In the 2007-08 campaign, the Raiders’ women’s team won its first Patriot League championship in program history. Colgate had 11 individuals earn All-Conference honors and six take home individual championships.

During the 2005-06 campaign, Jungbluth led Colgate’s women’s team to a perfect record through its dual-meet schedule, which included wins over the Naval Academy and four-time defending league champion Bucknell. Colgate defeated Navy for the first time in school history while it beat the Bison for the first time in 21 years. In his first season at Colgate (2003-04), Jungbluth earned Patriot League Coach of the Year honors after leading the women’s team to a second-place finish at the conference championships. At the time, it was the highest finish at a conference meet in the history of the women’s program. In addition, the men’s squad finished with a 9-5 record in 2004, which was Colgate’s highest number of victories in 20 seasons.

Prior to taking over at Colgate, Jungbluth served as an assistant coach for three seasons at Navy. During his time there, he produced nine Patriot League champions, six Patriot League record-setting performances, two Patriot League Championship Swimmers of the Meet and one team championship.

Jungbluth began his coaching career as an assistant coach and later interim head coach at NCAA Division III Amherst College (Mass.). As an assistant at Amherst, he helped coach seven New England champions, 10 All-Americans and 13 honorable-mention All-Americans. In addition, the Jeffs broke 41 varsity and pool records during his tenure. The men’s team posted a perfect 10-0 dual meet record during the 1995-96 season.

Jungbluth earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1994 and a master’s degree in exercise science from UMass, in 1997. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Minutemen, serving as a co-captain during his senior season.

Coach Nesty would like to recognize the commitment of Erva Gilliam, the Director of Operations for the swimming and diving programs.

“Steve and I appreciate all the hard work that Erva has put in as Director of Operations. We look forward to Erva being part of the continued success of our Swimming and Diving Program,” stated Coach Nesty.

Erva Gilliam has served as the Director of Swimming Operations for the Gators since 2001. She has served key role as a liaison for the UF swimming and diving teams. Gilliam has provided coaches with administrative support and assisted in the daily operations of the program. She has coordinated all of the teams travel to away meets. She has played a vital role in the coordination of recruiting activities. Gilliam will continue with her role as Director of Operations of UF Swimming and Diving.

Matt Delancey will continue to play a critical role as the program’s strength & conditioning coach. “Matt is one of the best in the business. We certainly appreciate all that he does for our Gator student-athletes,” said Coach Nesty.

The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Florida Athletics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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