Press Release courtesy of Columbus Aquatic Club
Columbus Aquatic Club of Georgia announces Andrew Beggs as the new Head Coach. Andrew will replace Dan Ohm, who will be moving to Germany with his family in April due to his wife’s military obligations.
“We are grateful for where Dan has brought the team and look forward to where Andrew will lead the team,” said Board President, Wes Kelley.
Andrew has worked as the Associate Head Coach of the Columbus Aquatic Club since September of 2016. Over the past year and a half, Andrew has made a significant impact with the team.
“Andrew brings a lot of passion to the pool deck. Anyone who has seen him on deck at practice or at a swim meet can attest to that,” said Wes Kelley.
Andrew has worked primarily with the top age group swimmers and has assisted coaches, both with developmental, and senior training groups. Over the past year and a half, those athletes have produced a number of Georgia State Champions, numerous top 10 finishers at both State and Sectional meets, and even more team record holders. Andrew was also instrumental in accelerating the Columbus Aquatic Club from level 1 to level 4 USA Swimming Club Recognition status in his brief time with the team.
“I’m excited about this opportunity. A big reason why we decided to move 900 miles a year and a half ago, is I think we have a lot of potential as a team and a community. We have a beautiful 10-lane 50-meter state-of-the-art aquatic center. We really want to build the competitive swimming community in Columbus, Georgia, which is almost non-existent, and eventually develop a team that will be recognized nationally,” said Beggs.
Over the past year and a half, the club has gained about 50 new members in large part due to a very successful Summer League Team called Tigersharks, directed by coaches Kayla Mumpower and Leah Gingrich. The team has also started a successful Masters swimming program in addition to taking some giant steps forward as a club.
Before moving to Columbus, Andrew was most recently the Director of Competitive Aquatics and Head Coach for the Lionville Community YMCA in Exton, PA from 2013 – 2016. In 2016 Lionville won the combined team title at the Pennsylvania YMCA State Championship meet, which was the first State title in the history of the program. During his tenure at Lionville, his athletes set numerous District, State and National records and one athlete qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials while representing the team. While at Lionville he served as member of the PA YMCA Coaches Committee as a coach’s representative. He also coached for the Downingtown area Pennypacker Country Club, a local Summer club team that competes in the Suburban Swim League of Delaware and Chester County.
Andrew spent three seasons at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania from 2010 – 2013, one as a swimming intern and two as the Associate Coach. In 2013 Andrew was awarded the Jean Freeman Scholarship from CSCAA (College Swimming Coaches Association of America). The Jean Freeman Scholarship is given annually to six collegiate assistant coaches whose exceptional contributions have brought recognition to their institution, and whose leadership, integrity, honesty, competitive attitude and personal graciousness epitomize those characteristics reflected by Jean Freeman.
Prior to Swarthmore, Andrew spent 7 years with the Ridley Area YMCA RAYS program in Ridley, PA where he coached multiple District and State champions, State record holders and National qualifiers. During a portion of that time he coached at his alma mater, Sun Valley High School in Aston, PA and served as the Head Swimming and Diving coach as well as the Head Men’s Track and Field Coach. In both positions he coached athletes to District and State success. He has coached for Brookhaven Swim Club and Riddlewood Swim Club in Delaware County Pennsylvania, Summer clubs that compete in the Delco Swim League. In his first season with Brookhaven they won the league title for the first time in over 25 years.
Andrew attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ and was a member of the Men’s Track and Field Team. Andrew holds a B.A. in Applied Mathematics from Eastern University. He currently lives in Columbus, Georgia with his girlfriend Leah Gingrich, former Pennsylvania and West Shore YMCA native, University of Texas Swimmer and Olympic Trials Finalist. Leah also coaches for the Columbus Aquatic Club and works predominately with the developmental groups.