ORLANDO, Fla. - McKendree University's head men's and women's swimming coach Jimmy Tierney was named the College Swimming Coaches Association of America's (CSCAA) Men's Swimming Co-Coach of the Year as announced by the CSCAA on Monday. Tierney is joined in the title by the University of Indianapolis's head men's swimming coach Brent Noble.
Tierney joined McKendree in 2015 and has coached the Bearcats for the last eight seasons. This season, Tierney led McKendree's men's swim team to an undefeated 9-0 dual season with four wins over nationally ranked teams, including the No.1-ranked University of Indianapolis.
For the 2022-23 postseason, Tierney helped McKendree to repeat as the third-place finisher at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships as the Bearcats won nine events. The focus then turned to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, where McKendree placed fourth during the 2021-22 season.
Combined with the women's swimming and diving program, McKendree traveled its largest group in history for the NCAA Championships. McKendree men's swimming and diving returned to the podium for the third consecutive year, securing the highest finish in program history at third place. The McKendree women's swimming and diving team finished a program-best 11th place for the championships.
The NCAA championships saw five first-place performances, a new NCAA DII record, 15 school records, 30 top-ten finishes, and 33 personal best performances from the Bearcat men's and women's teams. The five national titles marked the highest number of titles for any McKendree team in school history. Additionally, 18 McKendree men's and women's swimmers earned All-American honors for placing in the top eight in events at the championships.
Tierney on the CSCAA honor:
"I am honored and humbled to be voted to such an award by my peers. It is truly a staff award as our accomplishments could not have happened without great coaches like Nathan [Townsend] and Jolynn [Harris]. Of course, coaching awards are a product of the success of your athletes. I am blessed to have coached such a wonderful group of motivated and passionate men and women. They make me look good."
