Albiero Named Coach of the Year
March 24, 2015 | Swimming & Diving
University of Louisville head women's swimming coach Arthur Albiero was named National Coach of the Year by swimswam.com after a breakout performance by the Cardinal women's team at the 2015 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
With a sixth place finish at the 2015 NCAAs, Coach Albiero led the Cardinals to their highest finish in program history. The Cardinals' success has risen meteorically. Over the last four years, Louisville has vaulted from 24th in 2011 to 22nd in 2012, 15th in 2013, and a program-best 6th this year with 197 points.
According to the swimswam website, "he also coached Louisville's star butterflier, Kelsi Worrell, to an American record in the 100 butterfly and NCAA titles in both the 100 and 200 butterfly. Kelsi is the first NCAA Champion for the Louisville woman's program. His relays earned All American honors in four events with his highest finish coming in the 200 medley relay in second place."
The Cardinals are coming off a strong showing at their inaugural ACC Championship last month in Greensboro where the men finished second. In all, Louisville men won gold in five events - 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, and 400 medley relay - and finished with 16 medals, the second most of any team. For the women, the Cards set nine school records, five ACC individual titles, and set four ACC records along with Tanja Kylliainen being named ACC Most Valuable Swimmer. Andrea Cottrell will head to the World University Games and Kelsi Worrell will represent the USA National team at the Pan American Games in Toronto later this summer.
Last year saw Albiero lead the Cardinal men and women to a championship in the inaugural American Athletic Conference and another Coach of the Year honor. The women won six individual races and three relays. The men won 11 individual events and five relays. As they moved on to the NCAAs, lightning struck again as Joao De Lucca not only repeated as the 200-freestyle national champion but also won the 100-freestyle, a feat not accomplished since 1990. The men finished 11th with two All-Americans and nine honorable mention All-Americans. The women saw Kelsi Worrell finish as runner up in the 100-fly and fourth in the 200-fly to help lead the women to a 15th place finish adding four honorable mention All-Americans. Last summer Albiero proved that he not only puts UofL in the national spotlight but on the world stage as well. Thomas Dahlia won the French European Trials in the 200-meter breaststroke. Carlos Claverie medaled in the Youth Olympics in Bejing. Todd Owen was the Junior National Champion .Andrea Cottrell was named to the World University Games in 2015 and Kelsi Worrell was named to the Pan Am Games roster. In addition, the Cards are getting it done in the classroom as 2014 saw 11 Cardinals named as Scholar All-Americans.
The men's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships begin Thursday in Iowa City on the campus of the University of Iowa.
Players Mentioned
