NEWARK, DE -- Rory C. Coleman, a former All-American at Keene State and head coach Morningside College in Iowa the past two seasons, has been selected as the first-ever full-time assistant swimming coach in University of Delaware history, head coach John Hayman has announced.

Coleman, 28, will assist Hayman with both the men’s and women’s program and will serve as the Blue Hens’ primary recruiter. He joins a staff that also includes diving coach Peter Metrinko.

The Blue Hens swimming and diving teams will open their 2005-06 seasons Oct. 22 at Colonial Athletic Association foe George Mason in Fairfax, VA. Hayman, who has led his teams to six conference titles, will begin his 17th season as head coach this fall.

Coleman, a native of Fostoria, OH, attended the University of Findlay (OH) where he competed in swimming and water polo before transferring to NCAA Division II Keene (NH) State University. While at Keene, Coleman earned All-New England honors as a backstroke specialist. He set six school records and still holds those marks in the 50 backstroke (25.41), 100 backstroke (55.57), 100 individual medley (55.38), 200 freestyle
relay (1:31.0), 200 medley relay (1:41.3), and 400 medley relay (3:436). He earned his degree in political science and sociology from Keene in 2000.

He served one year as admissions counselor, resident director, and coordinator of Greek Life at Thiel College in Greenville, PA before beginning his coaching career at Loras College in Dubuque, IA. He served as graduate assistant swimming and diving coach and was an adjunct faculty member in 2001-02. He coordinated recruiting efforts, assisted
in the management of facilities, and taught aquatic classes in the physical education department and also served as interim head coach during the summer of 2000. He earned his master’s degree in physical education and athletics administration from Loras in August, 2005.

He moved on to NAIA member Morningside College in Sioux City, IA in December, 2002 where he started the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs in 2003-04. The women’s team went 2-3 in duals and placed fifth at the Central States Conference and 14th at the NAIA national championships in 2003-04 and posted an 0-7 dual mark, was seventh at the Liberal Arts Conference championships, and 13th at the NAIA championships in 2004-05.

The men’s team, which did not compete in an official season in 2003-04, began action in 2004-05 and went 0-7 in duals, placed 11th at the Liberal Arts Conference meet, and placed 11th at the NAIA championships.

While at Morningside, he also served as aquatics director, managed the aquatics facility, trained lifeguards, co-directed the Morningside College All-Sports Camp, and coordinated team fund-raising efforts.

Coleman is single and resides in Newark, DE.