Update to the below story: Shortly after posting, we received confirmation from a source at Ohio State that Hinkleman would be their new assistant coach (from a source who asked to remain anonymous, as the decision is still pending a background check and finalization of paperwork).
There, Hinkleman will serve as an apt replacement for Stefanie Williams, who returned to her alma mater Georgia as an assistant. This move won’t take her far from Toledo, where the majority of her coaching career has been, and will be another exciting opportunity. The Buckeyes have a massive incoming class, including two big, Division I transfers.
ORIGINAL POST
Liz Hinkleman, the 2011-2012 MAC Coach of the Year, has resigned her post as the head coach of the head coach of the Rockets’ women’s program to pursue “other coaching opportunities”.
After Hinkleman’s two years at the helm of the defending conference champions, there’s little doubt that other opportunities were rolling her way despite being one of the youngest head coaches in Division I. In her two seasons in that position, Toledo swimmers broke 12 out of the 19 school records.
Hinkleman also sent two seniors to last year’s NCAA Championships. That included distance swimmer Claire Leichty and breaststroker Laura Lindsay, the latter of whom won the B-Final in the women’s 100 breaststroke to earn All-American honors.
She is a Toledo graduate herself, and was a member of the team from 2004 through 2008. She then spent two years as an assistant to Lars Jorgensen before taking over.
The good news is that it sounds like Hinkleman will stay in coaching; one presumes that the job has already been decided based on her resignation, but we’ll keep an eye out for the announcement of her new role.
There will also be another move for someone to fill this role, leaving one of the better mid-major programs in the country with a vacancy. Their assistant Jacy Dyer is a 2011 graduate of the team, which would seem a bit too young to take over the head job just a year removed from school; however the Toledo administration in the past has shown the willingness to take a chance on a young head coach with strong school ties.
I really thought she was on her way to Michigan. That seemed to be a move up the ladder, this move seems to be a lateral move, but best of luck to her either way.
Speaking of Michigan Braden, have you heard thru the grapevine if they are just giving up on this recruiting class or are they going to be naming someone soon? I have never heard of a program of this class just wandering aimlessly thru the most important time of recruiting without a head coach or asst. coach. I imagine that most of the top names have already filled out their visits with schools for the fall.
So still no Michigan hire…any word on the Arkansas job? I’d think with July 1 having past administrators would be making a push to get head coaches hired.
So Braden…any news conferences scheduled from the school 52 miles to the north yet? Sounds like they may have found their replacement.
This is what I had been hearing, and just got it confirmed. Report coming out now…
Report on OSU? or Michigan
Ahh sorry for the confusion. I guess Ohio State is to the south, isn’t it. She’s going to be an assistant at OSU, assuming background check works out. Haven’t heard anything on Michigan STILL.
Maybe keep a compass with you!
should we be waiting for her to be announced as the Ohio State new assistant?
Buckeyes