California Promotes Kristen Cunnane to Associate Head Coach of Women’s Team

BERKELEY, California, December 13. THE University of California promoted Kristen Cunnane – a major contributor to the Golden Bears' championship seasons and recruiting efforts – to the role of associate head coach of its women's swimming and diving team, head coach Teri McKeever announced. McKeever made the announcement on Dec. 10 at the ring ceremony honoring Cal's 2011 NCAA team championship.

Previously an assistant coach for McKeever, Cunnane is in her fifth season with Cal.

"Kristen has been a constant in these two championships and continues to direct our recruiting efforts in an exceptional manner," McKeever said.
"Having stability on the staff is vital to our success, and this appointment signifies our commitment to Kristen and the desire to work together for the years ahead."

In her position as assistant coach, Cunnane worked closely with McKeever to develop the Bears into a national-championship team in 2009 and 2011.
Cunnane also worked to great lengths to make sure Cal signed arguably the top recruiting class in the nation last month, with young U.S. stars Elizabeth Pelton and Rachel Bootsma among the signees.

Additionally during Cunnane's tenure in Berkeley, McKeever signed a vast array of other talented Bears including senior Liv Jensen, the 2010 NCAA 50-yard freestyle champion; sophomore Cindy Tran, the 2011 NCAA 100-yard backstroke champion; and freshman Catherine Breed, a 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist in the 200-meter freestyle and 800-meter freestyle relay.

Before joining the Cal staff on a full-time basis in May of 2007, Cunnane served as a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant coach for the Bears for two years. She earned a master's degree from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education in the spring of 2006. Cunnane has also served as Cal's camp director since 2007.

A product of Campolindo High School in nearby Moraga, Calif., Cunnane swam for UCLA under her maiden name of Kristen Lewis. She was a Bruins All-American from 2002-04 and a letterwinner from 2000-04. A team captain as a senior, Cunnane ranked fifth-fastest in the 200-yard butterfly
(1:56.77) and seventh-fastest in the 100-yard butterfly (53.41) in UCLA's all-time top eight lists entering the 2010-11 season.

During her career at UCLA, she served on the team mentor council and was named Most Improved Bruin for three of her four years. She also received the Bruin Braun award for her strength and passion in the weight room.

Also an Academic All-American, Cunnane majored in history and was an NCAA postgraduate scholar. A 2005 graduate of UCLA, Cunnane was an undergraduate assistant coach for her alma mater in the 2004-05 season.

Cunnane ended her swimming career at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif., where she was a semifinalist in the 100- and 200-meter butterflies.

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.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use