CSCAA Names Jean Freeman Scholarship Award Recipients

The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announces the following recipients of the 2014 Jean Freeman Scholarship:

Division I: Gia Wright, North Carolina A&T University
Division I: Anthony Randall, University of Rhode Island
Division II: Jacki Hirsty, Assumption College
Division II: Pieter Ritz, Henderson State University
Division III: Kim Lloyd, Colby-Sawyer College
Division III: Andrew Bretscher, Frostburg State University

The Jean Freeman Scholarship is given annually to a male and a female assistant coach in each NCAA division whose exceptional contributions have brought recognition to their college or university, and whose leadership, integrity, honesty, competitive attitude and personal graciousness epitomizes those characteristics reflected by Jean Freeman. The scholarship will provide each of the six selected assistant coaches with the convention fee, transportation and lodging to the annual CSCAA Convention and Clinic. Recipients were selected by a committee comprised of members of The Summit, The Summit for Empowering Women in Swimming, of which Jean was a founding member. The members of the selection committee are Carol Capitani, University of Texas; Marian Clark, University of Pittsburgh; Anne Goodman James, Colorado College; Mo-Jo Isaac, Skyline High School (MI); Stefanie Kerska; Susan Teeter, Princeton University and Erica Quam of The Coaching Experience.

Jean Freeman was a pioneer in collegiate women’s athletics who served as a mentor and leader to numerous women and men who have gone on to become head swimming coaches in the collegiate ranks. Jean Freeman swam for the Minnesota Gophers from 1968‐72 and then went on to serve as an assistant coach with the team for one season before being named as the program’s head coach in 1973.

From there, Freeman took the program to new heights and national prominence. During her 31-year tenure in Gold Country, Freeman produced 27 winning seasons; won two Big Ten Championships in 1999 & 2000; won 208 dual meets; coached two National Champions; 14 Big Ten Champions; 175 All Americans; and most of all, enjoyed coaching over 1,000 student-athletes.

Furthermore, Freeman also coached nationally and internationally as well. In 1992, she was the assistant coach on the women’s Junior National Team that won the Quebec Cup; in 1991 she helped coach the West team to a gold medal at the U.S. Olympic Festival; and in 2004 was on the World University Staff for the U.S. team that competed in South Korea.

Jean served as the Minnesota senior chair for USA swimming for many years, was a key member of the NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules and Championship Committee as well as a member of the CSCAA Board of Directors. Freeman was one of the first full‐time female collegiate swimming coaches at the NCAA Division I level.

Among her many honors and accolades, Freeman was a four-time Big Ten Coach of The Year (1984, 1986, 1996, 1999); collected over 20 American Swimming Coaches Certificate of Excellence Awards; and was inducted into the Minnesota Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1999 she was the recipient of the National Collegiate and Scholastic Swimming Trophy, awarded annually by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. The award is the highest honor In collegiate swimming coaching and Freeman was the first female to win the award in its 41-year history.

In addition to being a highly successful coach, Jean Freeman was a difference maker in the college swimming community. She showed up, spoke up, and got involved to do what was best for our sport. Her influence can be seen on pool decks across the country where she is remembered by many coaches as a mentor, which is why these scholarships in her honor are such a fitting way to honor her memory.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com.

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