SWEET BRIAR, Va. --- Sweet Briar College has hired Jerry Diamond, most recently an assistant swimming and diving coach at Hartwick College, as its head swimming coach. Prior to his time at Hartwick, Diamond was an assistant at the State University of New York at Oswego.

"Sweet Briar Athletics is very excited to have Jerry Diamond join our team," said Jodi Canfield, athletics director at Sweet Briar College. "He has proven coaching experience and will be an outstanding recruiter for our swim program. His familiarity with Division III ethics and his strong communication skills make him a great mentor for our student-athletes."

"Taking over as the head swim coach at Sweet Briar is an incredible opportunity for me," Diamond said. "The kind of support displayed by the Vixens for their alma mater goes above and beyond any institution I have ever been a part of. I look forward to bringing my passion for swimming to Sweet Briar."

Diamond spent two seasons at Hartwick as an assistant with the men's and women's swimming and diving programs. The Hawks finished third at the Empire 8 Championships on the women's side in 2017-18 and fourth in the men's competition. The previous season, the Hawks swam to a third-place finish on both the men's and women's side of the meet.

Before joining the Hartwick staff, the Junction City, Ore., native was a three-year assistant coach at SUNY Oswego. Diamond aided the Lakers to significant improvements in the SUNYAC standings, with both teams climbing three places in the team standings during his time there.

Diamond focused on recruiting and training improvements during his time with the Lakers, helping to land top prospects from outside New York and increasing size and diversity of each respective recruiting class.

At SUNY Oswego, Diamond spearheaded a weekly underwater filming program that worked in combination with technical stroke training to elicit significant improvements in his athletes. Innovation in video and other forms of training helped breaststroke swimmers see an average 11 percent drop in times and a decrease of more than 40 seconds in the mile.

Outside of coaching, Diamond has spent time as an instructor with the Cornell Outdoor Education program at Cornell University.

Diamond was a multi-time all-state performer at Ithaca College, earning all-state recognition in relay events and the 200-yard individual medley during his collegiate career. Diamond holds a top-15 spot all-time at Ithaca in the 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard breaststroke.

Diamond earned his Bachelor of Science with an integrated marketing communications concentration in May 2011 from Ithaca College.

--- This release is courtesy of the Sweet Briar College sports information department. ---
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