Robert Morris Hires Jake Anderson as Head Coach

CHICAGO, Illinois, July 10. THE Robert Morris Swimming & Diving team has a new hand on the wheel with the announcement that Coach Jake Anderson has been named Head Coach of the Eagles.

Coach Anderson comes to Robert Morris University after a successful three-year stint at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA. Coach Anderson was the inaugural coach at Iowa Central and was responsible for getting both the men's and women's swimming programs off the ground.

"Getting both programs up and running at Iowa Central was both a challenging and rewarding experience," he says. "That first year we brought in some great guys who helped get the ball rolling and this past year we really had a break through with the women's team."

Anderson's Iowa Central teams have never finished lower than eighth at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Swimming & Diving meet, highlighted by a fifth-place finish by his men's squad in 2009 and a sixth-place finish by the women's team last season. In all Iowa Central swimmers amassed 81 CSCAA All-American honors under Coach Anderson's direction.

"As much as I had invested in the programs over at ICCC, the Robert Morris position was one that I could not pass up," he says. "With the location of RMU and the support of the administration, I believe we can do some good things here. Coach Merriss did a great job launching this program a couple years ago, and I am confident we can build upon that foundation. I am thrilled that assistant coach Samantha Grear will be staying onboard as I feel her experiences with this team and RMU will be a great asset."

Before he took over at Iowa Central Anderson was the head men's and women's coach at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. He spent three seasons at the helm of the Viking programs, leading the team from last in the Collegiate Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin to fourth in his first year. During his watch the team had four NCAA National Cuts, broke six different school records, and had a total of 39 additions to the school's Top-10 times list. At Augustana he also coached the CCIW most outstanding participant in 2007 and was the named the CCIW Coach of the Year in 2006.

Before his stint at Augustana, Anderson spent two years at Lincoln College (IL) as an assistant. At Lincoln, Anderson helped coach the teams to two NJCAA second-place finishes at the national meet, with 35 Athletes in all achieving All-American honors.

Anderson started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at the University of Northern Iowa where he finished his collegiate swimming as a mid-east finalist. He began his college career at Lincoln College, where he was the team captain and regional champion as well as earning All-American status.

Anderson is a member of American Swim Coaches Association. He holds Level II swim coach certification from the ASCA, as well as membership in the College Swim Coaches Association and the World Swim Coaches Association.

Originally from Muscatine, Coach Anderson now lives in the northwest suburbs. In August, he will be married to his fiancé Melissa, a senior scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute in Barrington.

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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