Olmsted Named to Swimming and Diving Coaching Staff
February 03, 2004 | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 3, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Karin Olmsted has been named as assistant coach to the University of Louisville swimming and diving team.
"Karin brings a wealth of experience in the highest levels of competition. She has coached a number of NCAA All-Americans and NCAA Champions," said Arthur Albiero, U of L head coach. "Among her strengths are her personality, her work ethic and her attention to detail which fits in perfectly with my philosophy."
Under Albiero's concept of a team coaching approach, she will be involved in dry land training, weight training, nutrition, stroke analysis and recruiting for both the men and women's team. Her background as a sprinter will allow her to gravitate to that area of training, as well.
After graduating from Gettysburg College in 2000, with a degree in both history and management, Olmsted spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Kenyon College. While on staff at Kenyon, the Lords and Ladies won every North Coast Athletic Conference championship contested and two consecutive NCAA titles for both the men and the women in Division III. In all, she has been involved on a coaching staff that has produced a combination of 12 individual NCAA Champions, 19 NCAA Relay Titles and more than 30 All-Americans in her two years coaching at Kenyon College.
Prior to her arrival, Olmsted already had ties to the University of Louisville. She grew up swimming for the same high school and club team as US Olympian Amy VanDyken, who competed under U of L athletic director Tom Jurich during his tenure at Colorado State. In addition, Olmsted's previous coaching experience was similar to Albiero's in that both have coached at the perennial Division III powerhouse.
During her own collegiate swimming career, Olmsted posted 16 NCAA Division III Centennial Conference individual and relay championship titles. She was named an All-American and team captain her senior year. Olmsted was a member of four conference and three national teams for Gettysburg.
"I joined this staff and this team because I truly believe that there is something special here at Louisville," said Olmsted. "Life is full of opportunities and I just couldn't pass this one by."
