WASHINGTON – Former NCAA Division III All-American Katie Stefl will join the George Washington swimming and diving program as assistant swimming coach and women’s recruiting coordinator, head coach James Winchester announced. Stefl will primarily coach the distance events.
“I am exceptionally excited to welcome Katie Stefl to our family here at George Washington,” said Coach Winchester. “Among a strong group of candidates, Katie definitely stood out with her knowledge and passion for the sport, and also her strong desire to help build a championship program here.”
Stefl joins the Colonials after two years as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Youngstown State University, where the Penguins broke 13 program records under Stefl’s guidance. While at YSU, Stefl also served as an instructor in the university’s exercise science department and organized the Penguins’ fall and spring clinics.
“I am incredibly excited to be joining the staff at GW,” said Stefl. “I am thankful to Coach Winchester and the entire Department of Athletics and Recreation for the opportunity to join such an impressive and well respected campus community. I look forward to working with the rest of the coaching staff to build a championship caliber program in the pool and in the classroom.”
Prior to her stint at YSU, Stefl spent two years as a graduate assistant coach for Springfield College, where she helped train one Division III national champion, six All-Americans and three relay Honorable Mention All-Americans, and the women’s squad placed 14th at the NCAA Division III Championships in 2012 and 2013. Stefl also coached as an assistant at Union College from 2010-11, helping the program earn 2010 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year while coaching a team of women’s 200 free relay NCAA Honorable Mention All-Americans.
A 2009 graduate of Kalamazoo College, Stefl was a four-year standout student-athlete for the Hornets, earning the Senior Female Athlete and Knoechel Family Awards in 2009. The political science and religion major was a career All-MIAA Academic Team member, garnered Academic All-America honors three times (2007-09) and earned NCAA Division III All-America accolades in 2007 and NCAA Division III All-America Honorable Mention recognition in 2008 and 2009. A two-year team captain, Stefl graduated with four program records and two MIAA League records.
“Katie has had some great experience coaching swimmers to the NCAA Championships, garnering All-American honors as well as coaching an NCAA champion,” said Coach Winchester. “I look forward to her bringing that level of success to us here at GW.”
Swimming news courtesy of George Washington University Swimming.