Benko, Francis Bolster Coaching Staff at USC

LOS ANGELES, Calif., USA, July 7. THE University of Southern California has added some serious punch to its coaching staff, as Lindsay Benko and Paige Francis have been hired as assistants by Mark Schubert, the head coach. Benko and Francis both raced under Schubert for the Trojans, helping USC to the NCAA title in 1997.

Benko brings a loaded resume to the Los Angeles-based school, a portfolio that includes Olympic appearances in 2000 and 2004. A five-time NCAA champion, Benko’s career also featured 10 U.S. national crowns and an American record in the 200 freestyle in the long-course format. Benko is the world-record holder in the 200 and 400 free events in the short-course format. After her graduation from USC in 1999, Benko served as a volunteer assistant with the school from 2000-04.

As for Francis, she was a six-time All-American as a Trojan and served as a graduate assistant last year with her alma mater. Francis trained with Irvine Novaquatics from 2002-04 and retired from competitive swimming just before last summer’s Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif. In 1999, Francis represented the United States at the World Short Course Championships in Hong Kong.

“Both Lindsay and Paige bring a tremendous amount of experience to our staff,” Schubert said. “As former Trojan swimmers, I’m very proud to have them join us. They are both of the highest quality.”

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