When Utah hired former University of North Texas coach Joe Dykstra to lead their swim program out of one of the darker periods in its history, it turns out that they actually got the entire North Texas coach.
The Utes have hired Michele Lowry, who was Dykstra’s assistant at UNT for the last three seasons.
“I am thrilled that Michele wanted to make this move with me to Utah,” Dykstra said. “She has been an integral part of the program’s success over the past three seasons at North Texas and is someone who I have total faith and trust in coaching student-athletes on our team smartly and passionately. Her dedication to developing well-rounded student-athletes will also pay dividends for our program in the classroom and community.”
Lowry is a former standout Sun belt swimmer at the University of Denver (a former conference rival of UNT), where she still holds the school record in both the 1650 free (16:25.85) and 1000 free (9:55.80), and used to hold the 400 IM record as well (4:12.99), and was an NCAA Championship qualifier.
Lowry’s personal experience left her a lot of time working with North Texas’ distance group, which is a group that included their first ever NCAA Championship qualifier Kimmy Phillips, who was 26th in the 1650 free and 52nd in the 500 free.
This hire for now seems to round out a staff that has a lot of carry-over from the previous head coach Greg Winslow, who was ousted in a swirl of still-unsettled controversy.
Assistants Jonas Persson, James Winchester, Tami Johnson, and diving coach Richard Marschner all returned from the previous administration, with Mason Norman and Director of Operations Major Robinson moving on.
So proud of my Michele!
Minor correction. Lisa Pursley actually moved on following the 2011/2012 season (with Charlie King) and joined her father at Alabama during the entirety of the 2012/2013 season. It looks like the only coach from last season not rejoining is Mason Norman.
Sorry, got off by a year! Norman and DOO Major Robinson are the two moving on. Corrected!