Maryville University Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Marcus Manning named St. Louis-native Erica Rose head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach for the Saints. Rose (then Erica Sparks) swam collegiately at Truman State and graduated from the university in 2000. While at Truman, she helped the Bulldogs to three top-five finishes in the NCAA Division II National Championships, including runners-up her senior season. She graduated from Visitation Academy in 1996.
“In Erica we’ve found a coach that will bring energy and enthusiasm to a program that’s still in its infancy stage,” Manning said. “We are thrilled to have a quality and local product of the area like Erica join Saints Nation.”
“It is exciting to be a part of the Maryville University community,” Rose said. “I feel lucky to have the opportunity to lead the team and help the student-athletes reach their full potential as swimmers and members of the Saints family.”
Rose is an instructor for the Parkway Swim School and serves as an assistant coach at the Cedarmill Swim Club. She served as a substitute coach for the Saints program during the 2014-15 season. Rose has been a master’s swim coach for Rockwood Swim Club, and she has coached for the club team at Parkway Swim. Rose was the head coach at Visitation Academy for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Her first coaching experience came as a student assistant coach at Truman State during the 2000-01 season.
Rose is an active member of the Saint Louis Area Masters swim program. She earned her master’s degree in education in 2007 from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Swimming news courtesy of Maryville Swimming & Diving.