Jake Shrum Named Towson University Head Coach

Photo Courtesy: Towson University

TOWSON, Md. – Jake Shrum has been named the head coach of the Towson University men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, it has been announced by Tricia Turley Brandenburg, deputy director of athletics/senior woman administrator.

“We are excited to announce Jake Shrum as the next head coach for Towson University swimming and diving,” said Brandenburg. “Jake’s experience as the acting head coach at Towson as well as his previous experience as a head coach and assistant coach, demonstrate his ability to lead a successful program. We are excited about the future of the swimming and diving programs under his direction.”

Shrum has served as acting head coach for both programs since the fall of 2015. Under his guidance, the men’s and women’s programs both finished in third-place at the 2016 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Swimming and Diving Championships. During the 2015-16 season, the Tigers set a combined 12 school records.

Jack Saunderson was named 2016 CAA Men’s Rookie Swimmer of the Year, becoming the first Tiger in program history to earn that award. During his freshman campaign, he set five school records, and a CAA Meet record, after winning the 200-yard butterfly at the conference meet. In addition, four members of the men’s swimming and diving team earned All-CAA accolades based on individual and/or relay performances at the CAA Championship.

Emily Wilson earned 2016 CAA Women’s Rookie Diver of the Year honors, becoming the first Tiger in program history to earn that award. Eleven members of the women’s swimming and diving program earned All-CAA accolades based on individual and/or relay performances at the CAA Championship. For the second-straight year, Jenna Van Camp qualified for the NCAA Championships, competing in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes.

Prior to being named acting head coach, Shrum served as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs. He joined the Tiger staff in May of 2015.

Shrum served as a volunteer assistant at the University of Virginia where he composed workouts, monitored training and provided stroke advice. Under his guidance, the women’s team improved from an 11th-place finish in his first year to a fifth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Championships. They also captured two Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championships. The men’s team saw nine student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships and finish 26th-overall.

Prior to joining the staff at Virginia, Shrum served as head coach at Albermarle High School, a highly competitive Virginia high school league AAA school, for six years. He was responsible for the overall development and organization of the program, as well as the formation of the school’s diving team. He led the men’s team to three regional and five district championships, as well as a top finish of eighth-place at the Virginia State Championships. The women’s team won one regional and two district championships and had a top finish of sixth-place at the State Championships. In 2013, he was named Central Virginia High School Swimming Coach of the Year.

Shrum also served as an assistant coach for both the Virginia Gators club team and the Fairview Swim Club.

He is a U.S. Swimming certified coach which includes certifications in athlete protection, safety training and CPR.

Shrum earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Virginia in 2008. During his time at Virginia, he was a member of the Cavaliers’ swimming team. He was a four-time varsity letter winner and was a member of three ACC Championship teams.

Press release courtesy of Towson University Athletics.

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