2007-2008 Women's Swimming Coaching Staff
Beth Harrell
Head Coach (8th season)
Phone: (904) 620-1420
Email:
bharrell@unf.edu
Beth Harrell begins her 10th season as head coach of the University of North Florida women's swimming program.
“One of the attractions of this coaching opportunity is the large support the sport and this team has received from the community,” Harrell said. “Jacksonville has a tradition of great swimming in its high schools and on its club teams. The pool of past Olympians from Jacksonville is impressive. The history of coaching is excellent.”
Harrell, who came to UNF from the University of South Carolina, served as the Gamecocks’ head coach from 1995 until 2000. Her coaching achievements at USC included national top 25 finishes her past two years in the program and top 50 finishes prior to that. While at USC, her teams excelled athletically as well as demonstrated dedication in the classroom and the community.
Prior to South Carolina, she was the interim head coach and assistant coach at North Carolina State (1994-95) for both the men’s and women’s swim programs, as well as head coach of the Piedmont Aquatic Club (1992-94), which she founded. It was the first year-round age group swimming and diving program in the Triad area of North Carolina in decades.
“The opportunity to begin your own program is a very unique opportunity,” Harrell said. “During my coaching career, I have coached at an ACC program and an SEC program. I am excited to be able to bring those experiences to this opportunity.
“My vision for this program stems from what I have seen in my past experiences. The ACC and SEC conferences are two very powerful conferences; therefore I have seen a snapshot of where we are going. The path is so much easier when you have seen success and learned to respect those paths that have been taken to get there. Those challenges will require creativity. Those challenges are where we, as coaches, grow the most.”
Harrell’s UNF team has made a big splash on the scene early, winning the 2002 and 2003 Southern States Conference meets. That helped Harrell earn Southern States Conference Women’s Coach of the Year honors following both seasons.
Harrell led her squad to the National Independent Conference Meet following that, bringing home a second-place finish at the meet in 2005. During that event, the Lady Ospreys broke 14 different swimming and diving records and earned swimmer and diver of the meet. Last year UNF finished sixth at the Pacific Coast Swimming Conference meet and will compete in the same event this season.
“We set the standard for women swimmers at the University of North Florida and as we get better and better each year, that standard becomes one we can be proud of,” Harrell said.
Harrell earned her bachelor of arts in sociology from N.C. State, where she earned All-America honors in 26 events, leading the Wolfpack to a 36-4 record in her four years. She remains the record holder in the 100 butterfly at NC State, a record she set in 1979.
Harrell held the master’s swimming record world holder in the 50 and 100-meter butterfly. She was also a winner at the World Champion Masters Swimming meet in the 50 and 100-meter butterfly in 1992, and a former Olympic Trials Finalist in 1976. She was ranked in the top eight in the swimming World Rankings from 1976-79 and participated in the World University Games, held in Sophia, Bulgaria in 1977 as a freshman.
At one time, Harrell was the American Record holder in the 200-free relay and 50-butterfly. She was a member of the 50th Anniversary All-ACC Team and currently holds the 81st ranking on the list of the top 100 times ever swam in the 100-butterfly.
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