Southwestern Oregon Community College will be adding men’s and women’s swimming programs beginning in the fall of 2014. They will compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
After losing one of the top junior college swimming programs in the country, Daytona State College, this will be a welcome addition back to the NJCAA championship meet. In 2014, there were 10 men’s teams and 13 women’s teams that competed at the NJCAA National Championship meet. In total, the NJCAA recognizes on their website 17 men’s teams and 17 women’s teams, including SOCC’s new program.
The program’s first coach will be Sandra Bullock. No, the famous actress is not taking up a new profession. This Sandra Bullock is a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Coast Guard, and is currently an assistant coach with the Gold Coast Swim Team in Coos Bay, Oregon.
SOCC is also located in Coos Bay close to the Pacific coast. The school, founded in 1961, has about 14,500 students. It does not currently have its own pool.