     Mary Bolich begins her ninth season as the men's and women's swimming coach at Wesleyan in 2008-09. Over the course of the last eight years, both the Wesleyan teams have experienced marked improvement both athletically and academically. The men's team went from a record of 2-11 in 2001-02 to a record of 12-4 in 2005-06 and had nine wins in 2007-08, while the women improved from 2-11 to 12-6 in '05-06 and logged 10 victories a year ago. In 2007-08 the Cardinals broke seven school records and had three individuals recognized as all-NESCAC performers. Both the men and women were sixth at the NESCAC Championships while the women went on to post a solid 39th-placing showing at the NCAA Division III Championships. The following are a few of the teams accolades achieved during Coach Bolich's tenure: 47 school records, five All-America honors, six All-America honorable mention honors, 10 academic All-Americans and a NESCAC champion in several events. Also at the conference level, 26 Cardinals have earned academic all-NESCAC honors, recognizing their strong efforts in the classroom. Each of the last eight years the men's and women's teams have received national recognition for excellence in academics. In the spring semester of 2001, the women's team was ranked as the top team academically among all Division III schools and was third in the country during the fall of 2006.
        Prior to coming to Wesleyan, Mary was the head women's coach at the University of Iowa for four years (1996-2000). The following are a few of the accomplishments the Hawkeyes achieved during those years: four 2000 Olympic Trial qualifiers, three NCAA qualifiers, two NCAA All-Americans, one Big Ten Champion and 20 team records. Academically Coach Bolich's teams produced three academic All-Americans, 37 academic all-Big Ten honors, and the 2000 University of Iowa scholar-athlete of the year.
        Before coaching at Iowa, Mary spent seven years as the assistant women's swimming coach at Penn State where she also was an instructor in the department of exercise and sport science. Mary came to PSU from the University of California at Berkeley where she was the women's assistant coach during 1988-89. Cal finished fifth as a team at the NCAA Division I Championships that year. From 1986-88, Mary was the assistant women's coach at the University of Pittsburgh. During that time, the 1987 and 1988 teams won the Big East Championships.
        Mary earned her B.S. degree from Temple University in 1984 and completed her Master's degree there in sports administration in 1986.

Seth Thacker - Assistant Coach

New to the Cardinals in 2008-09, Seth Thacker will be Mary's assistant this season. Receiving his degree from Wright State University in 2004, Seth was an outstanding performer in the individual medleys and butterfly for the Raiders. He was part of three Horizon League championship teams in his four years with the Raiders. Seth spent two seasons coaching his alma mater, Talawanda High School in Oxford, Ohio where he helped coach multiple state qualifiers. Previously Seth coached the Oakwood Dolphins Swim Team in Dayton, Ohio consisting of 200 elementary through high-school aged boys and girls. During his years with Oakwood, Seth helped lead the Dolphins to consecutive Miami Valley Swimming Association championships. Along with his coaching responsibilities, Seth served as a substitute teacher and a teaching assistant in interpersonal communications at Wright State.

Jeff Miller - Diving Coach
(860) 685-2568 - jmiller04@wesleyan.edu

Jeff Miller will be in his fourth year as diving coach for Wesleyan in 2008-09. Jeff has coached at two Division I universities - West Virginia University and the University of Maryland. He also has had numerous years of age group/club coaching experience between then and now.

While attending the University of Pittsburgh where he received his B.S. in physical education in 1976, Jeff was a Division I national qualifier each of his competitive years. He also was Eastern Collegiate Champion on both the one- and three-meter boards his senior year. Prior to college Jeff was a men's three-meter U.S. Diving National Qualifier, a Western Pennsylvania interscholastic champion and Pennsylvania state high school finalist.

After receiving his degree from Pitt, Jeff went on to earn an M.S. in Physical Education from West Virginia University in 1978 and also a Master in Public Administration degree from West Virginia University in 2000.

Jeff has been employed as associate director of student life facilities at Wesleyan since 2000. Before coming to Wesleyan, Jeff .held a similar position at West Virginia University for 10 years.