The University of Nevada has found the new head coach of their women’s swimming program that will lead the Wolf Pack into the 2012-2013 season in Abby Steketee, Director of Athletics Cary Groth announced Tuesday.
Steketee comes west from the University of South Carolina, where she was an assistant for the past four seasons on both the men’s and the women’s side of the pool (though Nevada has only a women’s program). Prior to that, she was a graduate assistant at West Virginia during their successful run in the mid-2000’s.
In college, Steketee was actually a standout rower. While in the process of graduating magna cum laude, she was a star of Northwestern’s crew team, earning the squad’s Most Valuable Rower award for three consecutive seasons. Simultaneously, she coached with the club arm of the school’s swim team: Northwestern Aquatic Swim Association (NASA).
That is an impressive juggling act at a school with the academic reputation of Northwestern, and speaks volumes to her character and work ethic: often two of the biggest factors of success at non-power programs like Nevada. She’ll bring with her husband Steve, who was also on the staffs at West Virginia and South Carolina.
This is a young coach who is rising in the ranks of college swimming; she’ll get her first shot at running-the-show at Nevada, and if successful could lead to bigger things in the future.
She takes over for Mike Richmond, who had been with the program for 13 seasons (5 as the head coach) but stepped down after last season.
I believe the correct usage is:
University of Nevada “Wolf Pack”
North Carolina State University “Wolfpack”
Very happy for Abby and for Nevada! She is a great friend and great coach! She is going to have the Wolfpack howlin’ in the west!
Yeah!