Stephanie Morawski Steps Down as Harvard Coach; Amanda Kulik Takes Over

Photo Courtesy: Harvard Athletics

Stephanie Morawski Steps Down as Harvard Coach; Amanda Kulik Takes Over

Stephanie Morawski has stepped down as the head coach of Harvard women’s swimming after 26 years at the helm.

Associate head coach Amanda Kulik has been elevated to the head job. The school announced the changes on Monday.

Morawski returned to coach at her alma mater in 1997-98. She’s led the Crimson women to eight Ivy League titles and has finished no worse than second in the conference meet in the last 21 seasons. Morawski is a four-time Ivy League Coach of the Year, leading one national champion and 112 All-Ivy selections.

Ivy League Swimming

“Coaching Harvard student-athletes has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” Morawski said in a team statement. “Their passion and motivation to excel at the highest level in both the classroom and the pool is awe-inspiring. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time on pool deck which makes the decision to leave coaching extremely difficult. However, I have accepted a position within the Harvard Admissions Office and am excited to spend more time with my family and cheer on the Crimson from the sideline!

“It has been an honor working alongside my fellow coaches, staff and administrative colleagues and I want to thank Erin McDermott for her support and leadership. I am also incredibly excited for the future of Harvard Swimming and Diving with Coach Amanda Kulik at the helm! Her energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the student-athletes ensures the success of the program through a culture of hard work, support, and positivity.”

Morawski was a captain of the Crimson in 1991-92. A two-time All-American, she qualified for NCAAs three times and Olympic Trials twice. She was named the 1992 Eastern Women’s Swimming League Swimmer of the Year and was elected to the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2007.

“Stephanie has been a model of integrity and sustained success for Harvard,” director of athletics Erin McDermott said. “She is one of the most accomplished coaches in the department, a dedicated alumna and professional, and a true ‘educator-coach.’ We wish her well in her next endeavor and we are also excited to elevate Amanda – a perfect successor who has made her own stellar impact on this program.”

Kulik joined Morawski’s staff in the fall of 2013 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2017. Her decade on staff has coincided with one of the most successful periods of Morawski’s career, never finishing worst than second at Ivys.

“It is an incredible honor to be named the new Costin Family Head Coach of Harvard Women’s Swimming & Diving,” Kulik said. “I am grateful and excited to step into this role where I will continue to promote a culture of competitive and academic excellence, and foster an environment of balance, connection and support within our team, within our athletics department and within the greater Harvard community. Thank you to Erin McDermott, The John D. Nichols ’53 Family Director of Athletics, for giving me the opportunity to lead this amazing group of women. I would also like to thank Stephanie Morawski for her mentorship, leadership, and dedication. It was a privilege to learn from her and work beside her for the past 10 seasons. I look forward to leading and empowering the women of HWSD and I cannot wait to get started! Go Crimson!”

Kulik was a two-sport athlete at Trinity College, where she was a captain of the women’s swimming and rowing teams. She will begin her duties on Aug. 1.

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