Swimming coach from U.Washington hired

[OldTimer]

Dykstra Takes Over Mean Green Swimming & Diving

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 05/09/2006

North Texas Director of Athletics Rick Villarreal has announced the addition of swimming and diving head coach Joe Dykstra, who takes the reigns of the program after six seasons with the University of Washington.

The former Husky standout and team captain spent the past six years an assistant at Washington, the last two as associate head coach. Dykstra coached the team's breaststrokers and milers, and served as the men's recruiting coordinator. Dykstra also assisted with all administrative duties, including travel, team operations and budgeting.

“We are fortunate to have someone with the experience and passion that Mr. Dykstra will bring to the North Texas swimming and diving program,” Villarreal said. “He unarguably has the credentials to make this a championship caliber program in a hurry.”

Over the last six seasons, several of Dykstra’s athletes have recorded numerous team and individual accomplishments. He has coached four school record holders, 15 US Open qualifiers, six US Senior National qualifiers and 10 NCAA qualifiers. Last season alone, two Huskies reached the NCAA Championship meet under Dykstra’s leadership.

Prior to his stay at Washington, Dykstra spent two years as a volunteer assistant with the University of Tennessee while earning his master's degree in sport administration. With his assistance, the Volunteers placed seventh at the 2000 NCAA Championships.

A four-year letterwinner from 1994-98, Dykstra left the program ranked among the Huskies all-time top 10 swimmers in five events. Dykstra still holds the fifth-fastest 200 IM and seventh-best 400 IM in program history. He swam career-best times of 1:50.08 in the 200 IM and 1:50.11 in the 200 butterfly at the 1997 Pac-10 Championships and 3:56.22 in the 400 IM at the 1998 Pac-10 Championships.

Dykstra was recognized numerous times by the Huskies for his team leadership and athletic accomplishments, including Most Valuable Rookie (1994-95), Most Improved (1995-96), Most Inspirational (1995-96 & 1996-97) and Total-Student Athlete (1997-98). Dykstra was also named to the Pac-10 All-Academic second team as a senior.

Originally from West Covina, Calif., Dykstra received his B.S. in Zoology in 1998.

[untbowler]

hope this works out well for the S/D team they could use some stability in the coaching ranks.

Plus PAC 10 and SEC experience should help, if he learned from the experience.