From University of Rochester Athletics
She knows high-level competition, she knows high level academic achievement, and she brings a deep familiarity with a national private research university. Emily Wylam is a perfect fit as the head coach of men's and women's swimming at the University of Rochester.
Wylam's appointment to the position was announced by George
VanderZwaag, the University's Director of Athletics and
Recreation.
"I am pleased to welcome Emily to our staff," said VanderZwaag. "We
feel she brings a great deal of directly relevant experience to the
position and demonstrates the qualities to be highly successful
head coach."
She comes to the University after serving as associate head coach
for men's and women's swimming at Case Western Reserve University
in Cleveland, Ohio for the past four years. Case and Rochester are
members of the University Athletic Association. The teams have
competed head-to-head in a season opening meet in three of the last
four years. They also compete annually in the UAA Swimming and
Diving Championships.
Rochester also competes in the Liberty League swimming and diving
championships. The Yellowjacket women have won five consecutive
Liberty League titles. Rochester has 10 combined Liberty League
titles in the last eight seasons.
The Yellowjackets sent six women's swimmers and one diver to the
2014 NCAA Division III National Championships. Those seven people
combined for 11 All-America honors. Rochester tied for
20th place in the final Division III results.
"I am eager to be the next leader of the University of Rochester
swimming programs," Wylam said. "There is a great deal of potential
for both programs and I look forward to cultivating that
potential."
With Wylam on the deck, Case swimmers achieved a multitude of
honors – both in the pool and in the classroom. During
Wylam's four years, Case set 48 school records, had two UAA
individual champions, 35 All-UAA performers (finishing third or
higher in an event), 60 NCAA provisional qualifiers, three NCAA
qualifiers, and five All-Americans.
Academically, the Spartans had 11 Scholar All-Americans as selected
by the College Swim Coaches Association of America. Case won the
men's and women's CSCAA Team Scholar All-American Award seven
times. The men's coaching staff was named the UAA Coaching Staff of
the Year twice in the last three seasons.
"Emily has been part of a successful program, competing effectively
in the UAA and on a national level," VanderZwaag said. "She
understands the type of students we attract to our University and
how to develop a swimming and diving program that effectively
complements their academic commitments, while providing students
the opportunity to develop themselves as competitors in the
pool."
"I am most excited to be working with the talented student-athletes
at the University of Rochester," Wylam stated. "Together, we will
work to excel in the classroom and in the pool, continuing the
University's tradition of excellence."
She was deeply involved in recruiting at Case, from the initial
contact stages through to the organization of official visits by
prospective students. She designed workouts for all practice
groups, and handled travel arrangements for dual and invitational
meets plus the team's training trip.
Wylam was an instructor of Physical Education at Case and an
assistant strength and conditioning coach. She served on
hiring committees for the head athletic trainer at Case and an
assistant men's and women's tennis coach.
Before joining the staff at Case, Wylam worked as a graduate
assistant men's and women's swimming coach from 2008-2010 at the
University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Pacific, a
Division I institution, broke three school records, won five
Big West events, set one Big West record, produced three NCAA
provisional qualifiers, and one NCAA qualifier. Pacific had one
swimmer earned Scholar All-America honors from the CSCAA. Wylam
earned her M.A. in Sports Sciences with a concentration in Sports
Psychology in 2010.
She graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 2008 with a
B.A. in Psychology. In the water, she was a four-time Mid-American
Conference champion in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke (2006
and 2007). She set the MAC record and team record in the 100-yard
backstroke in 2006. OU won the MAC championship in 2008. Wylam
earned First Team All-MAC honors in 2006, 2007, and 2008. She was a
team captain in her junior (2006-07) and senior (2007-08) years.
She was selected as a Scholar All-American by the CSCAA in
2008.
Wylam was an age group coach with the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins in
Yorktown, Virginia from 2005-08 and with Tiger Aquatics in
Stockton, California from 2008-10.
She replaces Peter Thompson as Rochester's head coach. In eight
seasons, Thompson coached Rochester to a combined 10 Liberty League
championships and three Coaching Staff of the Year awards among a
myriad of swimming and academic honors.