BRIDGEWATER, Va. --- Bridgewater College is pleased to announce the hiring of Gwynn Harrison, former head coach at James Madison University and eight-time Division III national champion as an athlete/assistant coach, as the College's head swimming coach.
Harrison was the head women's coach at James Madison for four seasons from 1999 through 2002. She led the Dukes to a Colonial Athletic Conference championship in 2001 and three runner-up finishes and earned CAA Coach of the Year honors in 2000 and 2001.
Harrison swam at Kenyon College, where the Ladies won the NCAA Division III national championship in all four of her seasons with the team (1991-94). A team captain, she earned All-American honors in eight events and was All-Conference in 12 events over that time.
She was later an assistant swimming and diving coach at Kenyon for the 1997 and 1998 seasons with both the men's and women's programs winning consecutive national titles.
After graduating, Harrison was a graduate assistant coach at Bethany College while pursuing a master's degree at West Virginia University.
Most recently, Harrison has worked as a Corporate Wellness Coordinator at Sentara RMH in Harrisonburg since 2006. Her main concentrations include wellness lectures, screenings, CPR contractor and corporate partnerships, along with directing group fitness classes, swimming lessons and home fitness programs at Bridgewater Retirement Community.
She has worked with the aquatics or lifeguard programs at numerous locations including Massanutten Resort, ACAC Fitness Center in Charlottesville and New Albany Country Club in Ohio.
Harrison also played volleyball at Kenyon where she was a team captain, team MVP and first team All-NCAC selection, and was an assistant volleyball coach during her time at Kenyon and Bethany.
She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Kenyon and a master's in physical education- teacher education from West Virginia. She is a member of her high school (Granville H.S. in Granville, Ohio) athletic Hall of Fame.
"The passion, experience and knowledge Gwynn brings to Bridgewater will benefit our swim team and the College as she continues to build on the successes of Fran Smith," said director of athletics Curt Kendall.
Smith, the only head coach in the history of the Bridgewater swimming program, retired this year with a career dual meet record of 55-21. Former assistant Laura Bartley was set to take over the position but will be leaving Bridgewater due to a family move.
--- This release is courtesy of the Bridgewater College office of athletic communications. ---
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