The Meghan Hawthorne–Jeremy Kipp connection is now headed back to where it all began, Southern California, after USC announced on Friday that Hawthorne is the first new addition to Kipp’s staff after he was named the program’s new head coach 2 weeks ago.
As a swimmer, Hawthorne was a USC co-captain and a two-time First Team All-American for the Trojans in the 200 yard IM in 2012 and 2013, scoring a total of 6 CSCAA All-America honors in her career. It was during her swimming career at USC, from 2011 through 2014, where she and Kipp first worked together when Kipp was a USC assistant for 8 seasons from 2008 through 2015.
When Kipp took his first head coach job, at Boise State, he hired Hawthorne as an assistant, where the two worked together from 2015 through 2018. Then, in 2018, the pair moved together to Northwestern, where they spent 2 seasons with the Wildcats.
Now they’ll continue their partnership, which has reached almost a decade, back at USC.
Hawthorne was a member of the USA Swimming National Team form 2012 through 2014 and finished 6th at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 IM. She went on to represent the U.S at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia, where she took silver in the 400 IM.
She got her start coaching the Rattler Swim Club in San Fernando, California, the club she grew up training with, from 2009 through 2015, and also served as an assistant coach for the Viewpoint School in Calabasas, California.
She graduated from USC in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in human biology and a minor in occupational science and earned her Masters in educational leadership from Boise State in 2018. Hawthorne’s high school honored her in February of 2017 by inducting her into the Chaminade College Preparatory (West Hills, Calif.) Hall of Fame.
The school says that they don’t yet have any updates on the future of 2019-2020 assistants Chase Bloch or Jordan Schrotenboer, though former associate head coach Catherine Kase has said she’s not returning to the program this season.
A lot of very positive news coming out of USC regarding Kipp. Within two weeks Kipp has gotten a couple of quick recruiting victories in signing JC sprinter Billy Cruz Zuniga and now Canadian junior star Hanna Henderson—. Both have potential to be immediate D1 Championships point winners.
Now for assembling the coaching staff and keeping the momentum going. What’s the best-case scenario? Looks to be Kipp brings both Meghan Hawthorne and Andrew Hodgson west and retain current Trojan recruiting specialist Chase Bloch. That means the new coaching team has a close working relationship having collaborated at Northwestern. And I believe Bloch may have been a swimmer on the Trojan Men’s squad when Kipp was an assistant coach under… Read more »
Nobody of the northwestern roster Will move to USC: they haven’t appreciated the kipp leaving approach
Hmmm…..Never say never. The dynamics at Northwestern are still in flux with no replacement yet much less staff. If Hodgson is offered the Head Coach position at Northwestern, it would solidify the team dynamics But if he follows Kipp to USC with a still unknown Northwestern HC in place, I suspect some Northwestern swimmers may want to “consider all their options”. USC isn’t looking to “poach” elite swimmers from the Northwestern roster, but if some of them decide via the transfer portal to make a change, that could happen. USC hired Kipp with the idea that he was the “goose that lays the golden eggs” and if some of those eggs follow, great. If not, Kipp can do at USC… Read more »
My prediction is Katie Robinson gets the head coach job at Northwestern and Chase Bloch stays at USC
Any idea who else he may be taking with him? Hodgson seems like he would be a great addition based off of his results at northwestern
Great technique guy and great distance coach
My suspicion is that he’ll keep Chase Bloch on staff at USC, and then see what he wants to do with the last spot. I think both Chase and Andrew are beyond “last coach on the totem pole” status in their careers, so I’m not sure you can afford both of those guys (maybe the AD will make it work, with no associate head coach?).
I’m still convinced that Katie Robinson is the best choice for Northwestern, and at any rate, if she were going to USC, I don’t think they would have announced Meghan first – unless they’re ‘holding a seat’ for Katie pending outcome of the Northwestern job.
I’d love to see Katie as head coach at Northwestern… Read more »
Chase for sure is staying on the coaching staff…
Chase is staying. Andrew is joining him.
Hope andrew realizes how expensive it is to live in Southern California with a family. Chicago isn’t cheap but LA is crazy
That may be the case, but if his job status is unknown at Northwestern (sometimes new coaches don’t keep current assistants), it may be better for his family if goes with the option that guarantees a paycheck.
Agree. Chase is tweeting as if he has the job!
Hodgson would make sense to stay with Kipp. They had taken NW to recruiting heights they hadn’t seen in over a decade. Would like to see what he can do at USC!
If Kipp steals Hodgson, I’m bouta throw hands
Alright Meghan!!