Sept. 13, 2006

Former Razorback Susannah Nieder Hired as New Assistant Swimming Coach

    Youngstown -- Susannah Nieder, a former swimmer at the University of Arkansas and graduate assistant coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College, has been hired as an assistant swimming coach at Youngstown State University, head coach Matt Anderson announced Wednesday.

    Nieder, a native of Brampton, Ontario, comes to YSU with an impressive career as both a coach and swimmer. She co-instructed an NCAA Division II National Champion and numerous All-Blue Grass Mountain Conference swimmers in two years at WVWC, and she is a former Canadian Olympic trials qualifier.

    "We're very excited to have Suzie as part of our program," Anderson said. "Her experience at both a large school and a small school in Arkansas and West Virginia Wesleyan makes her a good fit for us. In addition to being a tremendous help on deck, hopefully she'll be able to help us with our international recruiting and bringing in athletes from the Toronto area."

    In her two years at WVWC, Nieder worked with all aspects of the Bobcats' program, including recruiting, on-deck coaching, training programs and race strategies. Primarily coaching the distance and middle distance freestyle groups, she also helped oversee academic progress and managed the Bobcat Aquatics club team.

    Prior to her stint at West Virginia Wesleyan, Nieder shined in the pool and in the classroom as a four-year letterwinner at the University of Arkansas. Swimming mainly the 200-yard breaststroke and 400 IM, Nieder was named team captain as a senior and was a four-time Southeastern Conference Scholar Honor Roll selection. During the 2002 season, Arkansas was awarded the College Swimming Coaches Association of America National Championship with a team grade-point average of 3.644.

    Nieder was also an Canadian Olympic trials qualifier in the 200 breast, and was a Canadian Senior, Junior and Youth National Qualifier in the 200 breast, 400 IM and 400 free.

Nieder earned a master's degree in business administration from WVWC and a bachelor's degree in biology from Arkansas. She was also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society.

    The swimming and diving squad will open the 2006-07 season on Oct. 13 at the Bowling Green Tom Stubbs Relays.