Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving

Eileen Hall Named Saint Michael's Swimming & Diving Head Coach

Former Saint Michael's assistant and longtime club coach to lead men's and women's programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Seth Cole - Phone: 802.654.2537

COLCHESTER, Vt. – Eileen Hall, an assistant coach with the Saint Michael's College men's and women's swimming and diving program last season and longtime club coach, has been named the head coach of both programs, it was announced today. Hall succeeds Jim Donoghue '70, who retired last month after coaching both programs the last 12 seasons. Saint Michael's, an NCAA Division II institution, competes in the Northeast-10 Conference.

 "I am looking forward to coaching this strong group of student-athletes," said Hall, who assisted Donoghue with all aspects of the Saint Michael's program during the 2009-10 season. "Although I have only known them for a short time, they have proven themselves to be committed swimmers and caring people. It is exciting for me to expand upon the strong swimming tradition here at Saint Michael's."
           
"Eileen brings a combination of great knowledge and experience, coupled with a coaching philosophy that demonstrates an excellence match for the Saint Michael's swimming and diving program," said Saint Michael's Director of Athletics Geri Knortz.

Hall, who resides in Colchester, Vt., has a wealth of swimming and diving coaching experience at a variety of levels. Since 2005, she has served as the head coach of the Green Mountain Aquatics Senior Group, training athletes age 13-18 years old as they prepare for regional and Junior National competition (the group trains at Saint Michael's Ross Sports Center Pool). While with GMA, Hall has been the principal on-deck coach at the New England Open Championships, the New England 14-and-Under Championships, and the New England Regionals each of the last two years. Hall also spent 14 months in 2005 and 2006 as the head coach of the Winooski Swim Club, training athletes age 6-18 years old.

Prior to moving to Vermont, Hall served three years as the swimming head coach at Two Harbors (Minn.) High School, coaching approximately 30 high school athletes annually. Two Harbors finished in the top-three in its conference every year during Hall's tenure, and she helped advance two athletes to the Minnesota State High School Championships. Hall also spent three years as the head coach of the Kingston (Tenn.) Clippers Swim Club in the mid-1990's.

A standout amateur swimmer, Hall was an All-American at Glens Falls (N.Y.) High School in 1986, and went on to earn an athletic scholarship at NCAA Division I Bucknell University. Hall held high school state records for her success at Glens Falls until 2002, and was inducted into the Glens Falls High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

Hall has earned her Level II certification through the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA), and is also qualified as a coach with the United States Swimming Association. She has attended ASCA clinics in Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey since 2007.

Saint Michael's begins the 2010-11 swimming and diving season on Saturday, November 6 with a 1 p.m. home meet versus Colby-Sawyer College.

TRANSACTION: Saint Michael's – Named Eileen Hall men's and women's swimming and diving head coach.

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