Mercersburg Academy has stayed inside state borders to hire their new head coach and aquatics director, as the elite Pennsylvania prep school hired Glenn Neufeld from the Upper Main Line YMCA.
Neufeld takes over the position from Pete Williams, who after 25 years with the program has shifted his role to focus on work with the Physical Education Department as well as working with admission and advancement offices.
Neufeld has been at the Upper Main Lane YMCA since 2000 as they’ve become somewhat of a YMCA powerhouse, with one exception of the 2003-2004 season spent as an assistant coach at Alabama.
“We’re very excited to find the person who best fits the needs of our swimming and diving program—one that is a true legacy at Mercersburg,” says Rick Hendrickson, Mercersburg’s director of athletics. “This was an extensive process, focused on identifying the right candidate who can lead Mercersburg into what will be an exciting future. Glenn’s diverse experience and his enthusiasm, complimented by his record of success, make him the ideal choice as we move forward.”
Neufeld has produced 44 YMCA event National Championships and a future Pan Am Games medalist in Corrie Clark. Among his other credentials is as a coach at Virginia Tech and the 2011 YMCA National Coach of the Year award.
He is an alumni of the Peddie School in New Jersey, which competes in the same Mid-Atlantic Prep League as Mercersburg, so he understands some of the atmosphere at these elite schools.
Mecersburg has approximately 430 students, tuition close to $50,000 a year, and at $198 million, one of the largest endowments of for an independent prep school in the country.
Mercersburg has a legendary swimming program that has produced 24 total Olympic swimming appearances. That includes two Olympic gold medals from SwimSwam co-founder Mel Stewart.
Congratulation, you Ebuna!! You richly deserve the honor and yes it will be a shame not to see your name and UMLY together at YMCA Nationals. Will you be teaching as well??
Congratulations Glenn! Come swim with us before you leave!
Congrats to MA and Glenn! Awesome hire!
So happy for Glenn- perfect opportunity. He will be missed big time by UMLY….
Congrats! My daughter and I have been anxiously awaiting this decision. She will be swimming for Mercersburg in the fall as a freshman, having come from one of your rival Y teams. We’re excited!
FANTASTIC hire by Mercersburg. Great coach and an even better person. Way to go Glenn!
Congratulations to Glenn and Mercersburg! We look forward to our dual meet with you in Jan 2015!!
Congratulations to both, good match !