Marquette University has named Joel Rollings as the inaugural head coach of the women’s swim team, the university announced on Monday. The school announced the addition of the women’s swim program last May.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joel as the first head coach of Marquette women’s swimming,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Broeker said in the university’s press release. “He rose quickly to the top of a very competitive candidate pool, and for good reason—his track record of building and growing programs speaks for itself.
“Just as importantly, he has shown a deep care for his student-athletes, investing in their growth as people through the sport they love,” Broeker added. “We are equally excited to welcome his wife Lauri and their son Sam into the Marquette community as we begin this exciting new chapter together.”
Rollings comes to Marquette following a two-year stint as head swimming and diving coach at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), where he launched both the men’s and women’s programs for the Raiders. Under his leadership, the program earned recognition as one of NCAA Division III’s most improved in 2024-25, and Rollings received Liberal Arts Conference Men’s Coach of the Year honors.
Before MSOE, Rollings spent the 2018-19 season at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which followed a 12-year run at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. During his time with the Warhawks, he guided two NCAA champions, 56 WIAC champions, 13 individual All-Americans, and three All-American relay teams, while his squads shattered 92 school records.
Rollings earned WIAC Coach of the Year recognition five times—three on the men’s side and twice for women’s swimming and diving.
Before UW-Whitewater, Rollings served as the interim assistant swimming coach at Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2005-06) and the head coach for the Germantown Swim Club (2000-05). From 1998-2000, Rollings was the head age-group coach for the Phillips 66 Splash Club in Oklahoma, following his time as a graduate assistant coach at Texas Christian University (1996-98).
He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1995 and his master’s in liberal arts from Texas Christian University in 1998.
“I am incredibly grateful to Athletic Director Mike Broeker and Senior Woman Administrator Danielle Josetti for the opportunity to establish Marquette’s inaugural women’s swimming program,” Rollings said. “It’s an honor to be a part of Marquette’s rich athletic legacy and contribute to its continued growth and success.”
Marquette is a private, Catholic university and NCAA Division I school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school is set to become the 4th NCAA Division I women’s swimming program in the state of Wisconsin, joining the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Green Bay, and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The team will compete in the Big East conference, where they will join Butler, UConn, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova, and Xavier.
The women’s swimming program is Marquette’s 17th varsity sport; it last added sports in 2013, when the school launched men’s and women’s lacrosse programs. 9 out of the 17 sports are women’s sports, and the school does not sponsor a varsity football team – cutting it in 1960.
The school is home to a brand new 195,000 square foot, $80 million sports and wellness facility that includes a six-lane, 25-yard pool, seating for nearly 150 spectators, and team locker rooms. While the team will host dual meets on campus, they will also have access to the famed Walter Schroeder Aquatics Center 20 minutes away to host larger invites off campus.
TREEEEEEEE!!!
Great hire!
Joel is 10/10. He is going to make this program elite in no time!
The brand new 6-lane 25y (shallow) pool still kills me, but hey – adding a new collegiate swim team is a win!