Elliott McGill, the head coach at Eastern Illinois, has left his job with the Panthers to take over as a senior/age group coach for Nitro Swimming in Austin, Texas. He will begin in Austin on April 28th.
Graduate assistant Rachel McGrath has been put in charge of managing the program until his full-time replacement can be found.
“Elliott has done a tremendous job as the Panthers head swim coach over the past several years,” said Athletics Director Barbara Burke. “I know this was a tough decision for him but it was a professional opportunity that will help him with the advancement of his career.”
McGill is an Eastern Illinois alumni himself, finishing his undergrad in 2009 and earning a master’s degree in 2012. He has been the head coach of the EIU Panthers program since 2011, where he has led his team to lofty CSCAA Scholar All-America Team Rankings, and in total 12 women’s and 7 men’s school records are from the McGill head coach era.
“I would like to thank Barbara Burke, and the rest of the EIU Administration, for giving me this opportunity three years ago,” said McGill. “I’ve been a part of EIU swimming for nearly a decade. I look forward to becoming an engaged and proud Alumnus of EIU and the EIU Swim Program as I join Mike (Koleber) and Tracy (Koleber) with Nitro Swimming.”
The Eastern Illinois men’s team was 0-8 in dual meets this year, and the women’s program was 2-5. The women finished 6th out of 7 teams at the Summit League Championships, despite their record-breaking ways, and the men’s team finished 6th out of 6 teams.
Nitro Swimming, which is still a relatively new club, is based out of two club-owned 50 meter indoor pools in Austin. Even with a short history, the club has already won 6 Texas Age Group Swimming (TAGS) titles – which is the state’s most prestigious 14 & under championship.
Wonder how long it will be until they run them off…just like they do all the good coaches they hire.
The word is that Julio Zarate is also joining Nitro. Quick search dag out this information: http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/morningswimshow/37318.asp
Looks like two good hires for Nitro. I think these are changes that I heard were coming. The owner Mike is trying to make changes and get back on “winning” track. For the first time in 6-7 years, Nitro does not own neither SCY nor LC TAGS Trophy. The Woodlands does.
I think he is taking over TAGS 1 group (among others). Current coach, Greg Goulet is leaving. If so, Elliott McGill will be coaching our son next year. And I like “old school hardass” coaches.
0-8….
I swam at EIU a while back and we basically had no scholarships. I don’t know what the current team has, but I know the pool is the same old facility I swam in. On top of that there is no assistant coach and they cut diving a few years ago, so don’t really think 0-8 means the coaching was bad, but more the administration does not value swimming. Good luck Coach McGill. Wonder if EIU will keep the program going.
Elliot coached me a number of years ago. I can testify that he coached me for a while. He wasn’t my favorite coach ever, but he was a bit on an old-school hardass.
I wish him luck in the move and coaching in Texas 🙂
What’s elliots middle name???