Stanford Adds Dana Kirk as Volunteer Assistant

Greg Meehan has already implemented a lot of changes since taking over as the head coach of the Stanford women’s team, and his latest is one that many would feel to be way overdue: he has brought former Olympian Dana Kirk as a volunteer assistant to join his Stanford coaching staff.

Kirk has as many swimming credentials as any coach in the country. She was a 2004 U.S. Olympian after winning the 200 fly at the Olympic Trials, a 17-time All-American, and an 8-time Pac-10 Conference Champion while swimming for the Cardinal. Her current full-time coaching role is as a site director for the highly-successful Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics club. Specifically, the Fremont Hills site, which is now refered to as “Dana Kirk Swimming”.

For all of her accolades though, the one thing missing on her resume is college coaching experience, and this will give her an opportunity to gain that. All reports are that Kirk has done a very good job with PASA, and if all goes well at Stanford, one would guess that with her name recognition and swimming background, she’ll have a full-time job at a big-time program as soon as possible (if that’s the direction that she wants to go in).

This really works out to be a win-win situation, as it also allows Meehan to bring a Stanford legend back into the fold. Being able to show recruits Kirk’s name on the awards banners, and then show those same recruits Kirk on deck, could be a huge tool in his arsenal.

The Stanford women’s staff now includes Meehan, diving coach Rick Schavone, full-time assistant Tracy Duchac, and undergrad assistants Betsy Webb and Sam Woodward, each of whom just finished their college eligibility last year.