Tulane hires Guarriello as swimming coach
June 20, 2008
Tulane hires Guarriello as swimming coach- NOLA.com
She was assistant before Green Wave suspended program
Friday, June 20, 2008
By Nakia HoganTulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson didn’t have to search long or hard for the new coach of the Green Wave women’s swimming and diving team, which was eliminated after Hurricane Katrina.
He already was familiar with his top choice.
Former Green Wave assistant Lena Guarriello was hired Thursday to lead a program that will return to competition for the 2009-10 school term.
“I am very excited to be a part of the rebuilding process at both the university and athletic department levels at Tulane,” said Guarriello, who since 2006 has served as the boys and girls swimming coach at Keller (Texas) High School. “I have a personal attachment with the Tulane swimming and diving program because of Hurricane Katrina, so it is an honor to come back and restart the program.”
Swimming and diving was one of eight varsity sport programs suspended by the university in the aftermath of Katrina. But it’s the latest in a string of hires made as the university continues to bring its athletic department back to full strength.
Guarriello, 29, joins women’s golf coach John Thomas Horton and women’s tennis coach Terri Sisk, who were hired last summer.
Tulane also will add three more coaches, including a men’s tennis coach this summer and a women’s soccer and women’s bowling coach next year, giving the Green Wave 16 varsity programs and returning the athletic department to full strength for the first time since 2006, according to athletic department officials.
“We’re pleased with the selection of Lena to lead the reinstatement effort for our swimming and diving program,” Dickson said. “She was an integral part of our Conference USA championship success and brings proven qualities in recruiting and student-athlete development with a great blend of enthusiasm, familiarity and love for Tulane. We welcome her and her entire family.”
Guarriello, who was the top assistant coach for Tulane from 2004 to 2006, helped the Green Wave to the C-USA title in 2004-05. Before coming to Tulane in 2004, Guarriello, a former standout swimmer at Fresno State, served as a graduate assistant at Texas Christian for two years.
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