Head coach Josh Willman of the University of New Hampshire women’s swimming and diving program announced Thursday the hiring of Mike Jolly as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator.
“I could not be more excited about Mike joining the staff,” said Willman. “He brings with him experience from two great Division I mid-major programs and he has had some amazing mentors in both Rick Kobe at ECU and Carol Withus at Old Dominion. Mike has a lot of energy and a passion for our sport that matches that of our coaching staff here at New Hampshire. He also understands how important recruiting will be to our program over the next few years.
Jolly arrives in Wildcat Country after spending the last two seasons at Old Dominion University. While at ODU, he was responsible for all domestic recruiting, planned and executed all unofficial and official visits and traveled to club, high school and national level meets across the country. He coached seven NCAA B cut qualifiers and a student-athlete that competed in the NCAA Championships as well as the Olympic Trials in 2016, placing 17th in the 200 butterfly at both events. Jolly’s swimmers also hold 14 varsity records at Old Dominion.
“From the moment I walked on campus I knew that this was the place for me,” said Jolly. “From the coaching staff, to the athletic support, to the athletes, everyone made me feel really welcomed. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity given to me by coach Willman and am excited to be a part of the team’s future successes.”
Prior to his time with the Monarchs, Jolly was an assistant coach at his alma mater, East Carolina University where he graduated in 2013 with a degree in recreation and leisure studies. While an assistant coach at ECU, he helped guide the Pirates to their first-ever American Athletic Conference title and the school’s first conference championship since winning the CAA title in 1989. As a student-athlete with the Pirates, Jolly was a four-year letter winner and recorded the fifth-fastest backstroke time in school history. He spent the summers coaching Tanterra Swim Club in Olney, Md. and the Hydro-Sonic Tiburones in Rockville, Md. He grew up swimming for the Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC).
For more information on swimming and diving, visit www.UNHWildcats.com.
Swimming news courtesy of New Hampshire Athletics.
