Cougars hire new swimming coach

WSU+swimming+participates+in+a+meet+against+University+of+Arizona+on+Oct.+14%2C+2017+at+Gibb+Pool.

RYAN PUGH | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

WSU swimming participates in a meet against University of Arizona on Oct. 14, 2017 at Gibb Pool.

DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen deputy sports editor

Matt Leach has been hired as the new WSU women’s swimming head coach, Director of Athletics Patrick Chun announced Thursday.

Leach has spent the past three seasons at Indiana State University, where he created the swimming and diving programs at the university in 2015 and was the head coach the past two seasons. He was named the 2017-18 Missouri Valley Coach of the Year and helped the team set school records in every event at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships this past season.

“Matt is an exact fit for the next chapter of our swimming program as his vision and values will elevate our program on a new trajectory,” Chun said in a WSU news release. “The work Matt did at his past institution was remarkable and we look forward to having him at WSU.”

Leach spent six seasons at University of Wyoming prior to ISU and swam collegiately at Indiana University from 2000 to 2004. He also participated in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in 2000 and 2004.

“As soon as my wife and I stepped on campus we could see ourselves being a part of such an outstanding university and athletic department,” Leach said in the release.