Seasons at Tennessee: 19th Season (thru of 2023-24)
Seasons as Combined Head Coach: 12th Season (thru of 2023-24)
SEC Championships:2020 (Women's) & 2022 (Women's)
Awards & Honors
2022 SEC Women's Coach of the Year
2020SEC Women's Coach of the Year
2019 Pan American Games Team USA Head Coach - Men
2015 Pan American Games Team USA Head Coach - Women
2013 World University Games Head Coach - Women
2013 SwimSwam National College Coach of the Year
2013 CSCAA National Collegiate and Scholastic Swimming Trophy
2012 SEC Women's Coach of the Year
2008 SEC Women's Coach of the Year
2005 Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year
2004 Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year
2003 Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year
2002 Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year
Biography
After the best collective finish in program history and an impressive showing by Vols and Lady Vols during the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tennessee Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich agreed to a contract extension through April of 2029, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White announced ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
“Matt has shown outstanding leadership in building one of the country's top swimming and diving programs here on Rocky Top,” White said. “Under his direction, our program constantly sets new standards and is steadily moving toward becoming the best program in the nation!”
Throughout Kredich's tenure at Tennessee, the four-time SEC Coach of the Year guided the Lady Vols to a pair of SEC Championship titles, including the team's first-ever championship in 2020 followed by a second title in 2022. During the men's 2022 SEC Championships, he led the Volunteers to a second-place finish, which marked their highest finish since 2001.
During the 2023-24 campaign, the Vols (6th) and Lady Vols (4th) both finished inside the top six nationally in the same season for the first time in program history—just one year after leading both teams to top 10 finishes at NCAAs for the first time ever. It marked the second-best NCAA finish for the women’s team ever and the highest finish by the men’s team since 2001.Tennessee brought home a combined five silver and three bronze medals from the NCAA Championships. During SECs, the Big Orange earned conference titles in eight events between both programs.
Kredich and his staff have been instrumental in the development of Jordan Crooks. After winning the SEC title in the 50 free as a freshman in 2021-22, the George Town, Cayman Islands, native enjoyed one of the best seasons ever by a Tennessee swimmer in 2022-23. Being recognized by league coaches, Crooks brought home the top conference honor after posting an incredible stretch in the 50 free, winning the event at the NCAA Championships, SEC Championships and Short Course World Championships throughout the season. During SECs, he threw down the second-fastest time in NCAA history at 17.93 effort, becoming only the second swimmer ever to swim under 18 seconds in the 50 free. Most recently, he punched his ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he became the first Cayman Islands swimmer ever to advance to an Olympic final, finishing eighth overall in the 50 free.
Since 2005-06, Kredich has guided Tennessee student-athletes to a combined 90 SEC and nine NCAA titles. The two programs have achieved a comprehensive total of 742 All-American certificates under his guidance, while four different Vols and Lady Vols have garnered five SEC Swimmer of the Year honors with his coaching, including 50 free national champion Jordan Crooks in 2023. A Tennessee swimmer has won the conference's top recognition in four of the last six seasons.
Tennessee student-athletes have excelled in the classroom with Kredich at the helm. Since 2010, the Lady Vols boast 84 first-team Scholar All-Americans and 121 total honorees. As a program, the women have earned CSCAA Scholar All-American Team recognition for 14 consecutive seasons. On the men's side, a total of 71 Vols received Scholar All-American status, with 40 recognized on the first team, since 2012-13. The program has been named to the Scholar All-American Team list during 21 of the 22 semesters under Kredich.
During the 2023-24 academic year, Martin Espernberger earned SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, the second time a Tennessee swimmer had won the award under Kredich’s direction. Espernberger led the way as five Vols and Lady Vols received College Sports Communicators Academic All-American status after having a program-record six selections in 2022-23, bringing Tennessee’s total with Kredich at the helm to 18.
Over the last eight seasons, the Lady Vols have finished fourth or better in the SEC every season, while the Vols have placed inside the top three four times. At the NCAA Championships, the women currently own a streak of six straight top-10 finishes and have achieved the feat 11 times with Kredich at the helm compared to placing inside the top 10 just three times before his arrival. The Vols have posted top-15 finishes at seven NCAA meets under Kredich, including the first back-to-back (2023 & 2024) top-10 efforts at the NCAA Championships for the Big Orange since 2008 and 2009.
Bringing in some of the best talent in the world, Kredich has coached 24 Olympians who competed at Tennessee, including three medalists. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tennessee saw program-record 17 Vols and Lady Vols compete, shattering the previous record of seven from 2020 Tokyo. Throughout the week, UT swimmers won a pair of medals, broke five national records and advanced to seven finals. In addition, he and his staff have trained numerous athletes who qualified for the Olympics after their collegiate careers.
- Erika Brown (USA: 2020, 2024) – Silver Medalist in 400 Medley Relay (2020) and 4x100 Free Relay (2024), Bronze Medalist in 400 Free Relay (2020)
- Gui Caribe (Brazil: 2024)
- Jillian Crooks (Cayman Islands: 2020, 2024)
- Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands: 2024)
- Tess Cieplucha (Canada: 2020)
- Brooklyn Douthwright (Canada: 2024)
- Lyubomir Epitropov (Bulgaria: 2020, 2024)
- Martin Espernberger (Austria: 2024)
- Emelie Fast (Sweden: 2020)
- Molly Hannis (USA: 2016)
- Michael Houlie (South Africa: 2020)
- Ella Jansen (Canada: 2024)
- Christine Magnuson (USA: 2008) – Silver Medalist in 100 Fly and 400 Medley Relay
- Mona McSharry (Ireland: 2020, 2024)– Bronze Medalist in 100 Breast (2024)
- Martina Moravcikova (Czech Republic: 2012, 2016)
- Kayky Mota (Brazil: 2024)
- Julia Mrozinski (Germany: 2024)
- Tjasa Pintar (Slovenia: 2016, 2024)
- Regan Rathwell (Canada: 2024)
- Lamar Taylor (Bahamas: 2024)
- Cherelle Thompson (Trinidad & Tobago: 2020)
- Kira Toussaint (Netherlands: 2016, 2020, 2024)
- Joaquin Vargas (Peru: 2020, 2024)
- Ellen Walshe (Ireland: 2020, 2024)
Brown and Walshe are the only Lady Vols to ever win SEC Swimmer of the Meet during the SEC Championships. The duo along with Christine Magnuson mark the only Lady Vols to receive the Commissioner’s Trophy, which is given to the top points scorer at SECs. Walshe is the only UT freshman to win either award.
Brown enjoyed a breakout performance at the 2018 SEC championships, the then sophom*ore had a hand in six conference titles: three individual – 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly – and three as part of relays. In 2019, she repeated her performance and became the first Vol, male or female, to win back-to-back SEC titles in three separate events. She continued her incredible streak in 2019-20 as she won SEC titles in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly for the third-straight season (as well as winning three more gold medals in relay events), becoming the first woman in SEC history to win the same three events in three consecutive seasons. She set a new American Record in the 100 fly (49.38) at SECs in 2020 and became just the second woman to ever swim sub 46 seconds in the 100 free (45.83), joining Olympian Simone Manual.
The Charlotte, N.C., native ran her SEC medal count to 23 (18 gold, two silver and three bronze) by the end of her career.Brown earned SEC Swimmer of the Year recognition twice and paced the Lady Vols to their first-ever conference championship.
Walshe exploded onto the scene during her freshman campaign, winning four gold medals at the 2022 SEC Championships (100 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM, 800 free relay). She’s the first swimmer in SEC history to win the 100 fly, 200 IM and 400 IM during the same meet, while her 400 IM time of 4:01.53 marked a school record and was the fastest time ever by an SEC freshman.
Magnuson, who was the American record holder in the 100-meter fly, won two silver medals at the 2008 Olympic Games and finished her college career as a 23-time All-American, four-time SEC champion, SEC Swimmer of the Year, NCAA champion and Olympic Trials champion.
Kredich accepted the head coaching position of the Tennessee women's swimming and diving program on April 30, 2005. He joined UT after spending four seasons at Richmond from 2001-02 through 2004-05, when he led the Spiders to the NCAA Championships and won the Colonial Athletic Association championship in all four years. He previously served as the head coach of a combined program at Brown University for nine seasons (1993-2001).
He was named head coach of the combined Tennessee men's and women's program on April 12, 2012.
YEAR-BY-YEAR RECAPS
2022-23
MEN:SEC Finish: 3nd // NCAA Finish: 7th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 2nd // NCAA Finish: 8th
For the first time in program history, both programs earned top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships during the 2022-23 campaign. The Vols finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, marking the program’s best finish since 2016, and placed third at SECs. The Lady Vols took second at the SEC Championships followed by an 8th-place finish at NCAAs, marking the sixth year in a row in which the group ended the season inside the top 10 nationally.
The men’s team was led by the duo of SEC Swimmer of the Year Jordan Crooks and SEC Diver of the Year Bryden Hattie. Crooks etched his name into history this year by winning the 50 free title at the NCAA Championships, SEC Championships and Short Course World Championships.During SECs, he threw down the second-fastest time in NCAA history at 17.93 effort, becoming only the second swimmer ever to swim under 18 seconds in the 50 free. The sophom*ore earned SEC Swimmer of the Meet and was a Co-Commissioner’s Trophy winner after taking four gold medals at the conference championships and hauling in first team All-American recognition in seven different events at NCAAs. Hattie, who won SEC Diver of the Meet and was also a Co-Commissioner’s Trophy winner, earned All-America First Team recognition on 3-meter and platform. Thanks to a list that included four dives scoring for 80-plus points, the junior was the national runner-up on tower. During the SEC Championships, he enjoyed a monster week on the boards, bringing home a pair of gold medals on platform and 3-meter and winning silver on 1-meter. Nick Stone won SEC Freshman Diver of the Year honors after scoring in all three events at SECs and earning All-America Second Team honors on platform.
Leading the Lady Vols, junior Mona McSharry and sophom*ore Brooklyn Douthwright both won SEC titles and finished as national runner-ups in an event at the 2023 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, which were held at Tennessee’s Allan Jones Aquatic Center. McSharry swept the breaststroke events and took home silver in the 50 free at SECs, and she followed that performance up by placing second overall in the 100 breast and fourth in the 200 breast at NCAAs. Enjoying an impressive sophom*ore campaign, Douthwright was the SEC Champion and national runner-up in the 200 free. She was also a member of two Lady Vol relays that earned First Team All-America recognition. Fellow sophom*ore Josephine Fuller earned SwimSwam Breakout Swimmer of the Year honors after earning First Team All-America honors in the backstrokes and winning silver medals in three individual events at SECs.
2021-22
MEN:SEC Finish: T2nd // NCAA Finish: 18th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 1st // NCAA Finish: 10th
Between several key returners and the second-ranked recruiting class in the country, the Lady Vols enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history. For the second time in three years, Tennessee won the SEC Championship in dominant fashion, totaling 17 medals won, including seven gold, in front of a home crowd at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. All 22 members on UT's SEC roster qualified for at least one B final or better. The Lady Vols followed up the performance by posting their fourth consecutive top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships, as the group hauled in 28 All-America honors and five podium finishes. Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich received his fourth SEC Coach of the Year accolade following the campaign.
Freshman Ellen Walshe was named the 2022 SEC Co-Swimmer of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year for her performances throughout the season. She became the first swimmer in SEC history to win the 100 fly, 200 IM and 400 IM during the same SEC Championships. She won a combined seven medals en route to being named theSEC Swimmer of the Meet and receiving the prestigious Commissioner's Trophy as the top overall points scorer. She ended the season by earning All-America honors in seven events at NCAAs. Sophom*ore Mona McSharry finished the year on a high note, placing fourth nationally in the 100 breast behind a 57.18 time, which shattered the SEC and Tennessee records in the event. In total, six program records fell during the season.
With a good mix of veteran leaders along with talented underclassmen, the Vols enjoyed a successful 2021-22 campaign. During the SEC Championships, Tennessee earned its best finish since 2001, tying for second overall behind 10 medals won, with one gold, five silver and four bronze. Throughout the week, six new program records were set in front of the home crowd at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. After his first night of individual races, freshman Jordan Crooks became a national name. The George Town, Cayman Islands, native exploded onto the scene with his dynamic performance in the 50 free. Winning gold in the event, his 18.53 time shattered the program record, marked the fastest time ever by a freshman and made him the fifth-fastest person ever in the event. His week was just getting started, as he proceeded to win two more medals in the 100 free (silver) and 100 fly (bronze) while setting the program record in both events. His 100 free time of 41.44 also stood as the fastest mark ever by a freshman in NCAA history.
Thanks to his performances at NCAAs, Crooks was tabbed the SwimSwam Breakout Swimmer of the Year after taking third in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free to earn All-America first team honors. He was the lone freshman to compete in either event. Sophom*ore Bryden Hattie placed third nationally on the platform after finishing second in the event at SECs. He posted a score of 418.70 in the finals to earn first team All-America status. A total of 17 All-America honors were earned throughout the week by nine different Vols. Five swimmers received the status in multiple events. Tennessee finished on the podium in four events.
2020-21
MEN:SEC Finish: 3rd // NCAA Finish: 20th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 5th // NCAA Finish: 10th
The 2020-21 season brought many challenges outside of the pool with the navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite that, the Vols earned their second top-3 finish in three years at the SEC Championships. Junior Lyubomir Epitropov won gold in the 200 breast while breaking the school record in the event. Junior Michael Houlie won silver in the 100 breast with a school record time and also brought home the bronze in the 200 breast. Bryden Hattie won SEC Freshman Diver of the Year after winning gold on the platform. Seven Vols earned 11 All-America honors for the season.
On the women's side,the Lady Vols lost several major contributors from the previous due to graduation. While they didn’t finish as high as previous years at SECs, the squad rallied at the NCAA Championships to earn their third-straight top-10 finish. Sophom*ore Kristen Stege shined in her first season on Rocky Top, winning gold in the 1650 free and silver in the 500 free during the SEC Championships. Becoming the school record holder in the event, Stege went on to finish fourth nationally in the event. SEC Freshman of the Year Mona McSharry exploded onto the scene, winning silver in the 100 breast at SECs before going on to place fourth in the 100 and 200 breast at NCAAs and setting the program record in both events. The Lady Vols had 11 swimmers earn 28 All-America certificates for the year.
2019-20
MEN:SEC Finish: 6th // NCAA Finish: N/A -The 2020 NCAA Championships were canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis.
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 1st // NCAA Finish: N/A -The 2020 NCAA Championships were canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis.
The 2019-20 season proved to be a special one as both the men's and women's teams had spectacular dual meet seasons, capped off by the women's team winning their first-ever SEC Championship. The women's squad finished the year undefeated at 8-0, just the third undefeated season in program history and the first since 1972-73. The men went 7-1 on the year and finished with their best record since 2001-02.
At SECs, the Lady Vols won 11 total medals en route to their SEC title while Erika Brown set an American Record in the 100 fly and three-peatedin the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly, becoming the first woman in SEC history to win the same three events in three consecutive seasons. Meghan Small won her third SEC title in the 200 IM, just the third woman in SEC history to do so.
The men's team brought home four medals from SECsand saw a number of underclassmen swimmers score at the championship meet.
2018-19
MEN:SEC Finish: 3rd // NCAA Finish: 11th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 8th
2018-19 saw another remarkable season from Erika Brown as she became the first Vol, male or female, to win back-to-back SEC titles in three separate events and claim six more SEC Championships (three individually and three on relay teams). The year also witnessed the Lady Vols adding to their relay history as Meghan Small, Nikol Popov, Madeline Banic and Brown brought home an NCAA title in the 200 Medley Relay.As a team, Tennessee finished in the top 10 for the second consecutive year.
RedshirtseniorZhipeng (Colin) Zeng earned CSCAA National Diver of the Year honors for a second time en route to capturing his second NCAA title with the Vols and his first in the 1-Meter Springboard.
2017-18
MEN:SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 11th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 3rd // NCAA Finish: 7th
The 2017-18 season was marked by the grand emergence of Erika Brown onto the national college swimming and diving stage. The sophom*ore won six gold medals at the SEC Championships, including three individual (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly). She took second at the NCAA championships in both the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly and set four school records. As a team, Tennessee rebounded back into the top 10, powered by a sophom*ore core that also included Meghan Small, Tess Cieplucha and newcomer Stanzi Moseley.
Redshirt junior Zhipeng (Colin) Zeng earned CSCAA National Diver of the Year honors en route to capturing Tennessee's first NCAA men's platform title. He also took fourth on 1-meter and second on 3-meter. The Vols set six new program records with junior Kyle DeCoursey taking ownership of the 50-yard freestyle (19.12 seconds).
2016-17
MEN:SEC Finish: 6th // NCAA Finish: 20th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 22nd
With the SEC championships back in Knoxville for the first time since 2012, Tennessee claimed two individual women’s titles. Madeline Banic scored an upset victory in the 50 freestyle in a school-record time of 21.54 and was later third in the 100 butterfly. Freshman Meghan Small won the 200 IM and was third in the 200 backstroke. Small broke three school records during her first year on Rocky Top in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 butterfly.
Junior diver Liam Stone led the Vols through the postseason once again. He broke the SEC record to clinch the 1-meter title (468.30) and took bronze on 3-meter. He took fourth in both springboard events at NCAAs and was named SEC Diver of the Year. Sophom*ore Kyle DeCoursey had a breakout year in the sprint events, taking third at SECs in the 100 freestyle in a school record 42.07.
2015-16
MEN:SEC Finish: 6th // NCAA Finish: 7th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 2nd // NCAA Finish: 13th
The Vols placed seventh in the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships to end the season. It was the best NCAA meet for the Vols since taking third in 2001 and was the first top-10 finish for the program since 2009. Sophom*ore Liam Stone became the first Vol in 12 years to win an NCAA title, capturing the 1-meter springboard title with a score of 453.70. Sophom*ore Peter John Stevens took second in the 100 breaststroke, and senior Sean Lehane earned seven All-America honors at his final NCAA meet.
The Tennessee women matched the best conference finish in program history, taking second at the SEC Championships. The Vols' relay team of Kira Toussaint, Madeline Banic, Harper Bruens and Faith Johnson captured three SEC relay titles. Johnson finished her conference career with seven SEC titles, tying for the most in UT history. Rachel Rubadue won the SEC platform title and was named the SEC Freshman Diver of the Year. The Vols send 15 competitors to the NCAA meet and placed 13th overall.
After the season, Toussaint made the Netherlands' Olympic team in the 100 backstroke. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Molly Hannis earned a spot on Team USA with a second-place finish in the 200 breaststroke; she was also third in the 100 breaststroke. Lehane qualified for the trials finals in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
2014-15
MEN:SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 14th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 11th
Molly Hannis led the Tennessee women throughout her final collegiate season. At the SEC meet, she earned two more silver medals in the breaststroke events and also helped Tennessee win the two medley relays. She ended her career as a 14-time All-America by picking up four more awards.
On the men's side, Sean Lehane defended his SEC title in the 200 backstroke and placed second in the event at NCAAs. The year marked a real youth movement for the men's teams with six swimmers or divers earned All-America honors for the first time.
At the SEC meet, the men's and women's teams improved placement from the year before, both finishing fourth in the standings. Two newcomers enjoyed their breakout performances at the meet. Sam McHugh made the championship final of his three events, taking silver in the 200 butterfly. Liam Stone, who joined the team at midseason, won the 3-meter springboard with an SEC record score of 463.50.
2013-14
MEN:SEC Finish: 6th // NCAA Finish: 15th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 5th // NCAA Finish: 7th
The remarkable ends to Lindsay Gendron's and Tori Lamp's careers highlighted the 2013-14 season for the Tennessee women's squad. At the NCAA championships, Gendron brought her best to the pool. She earned bronze medals in the 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly and placed eighth in the 100 freestyle, setting school records in all three events. Lamp ended her diving career by winning her third consecutive SEC platform title and scoring on all three boards at the NCAA meet.
In the classroom, Gendron was a leader there too. She was an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient and a Capital One Academic All-American.
In the second year of the combined program, the Vols showed individual improvement from the year before. Sean Lehane won the Vols' first SEC title in the 200 backstroke title since 1993 and reached the NCAA championship final in the event. Luke Percy broke the school record and finished second at SECs in the 100 freestyle. Sam Rairden's notable four-year career with the Vols ended with 13 All-America honors and 12 SEC medals.
UT had 17 members of the team earn All-America honors.
2012-13
MEN:SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 16th
WOMEN: SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 3rd
The first combined year for the men and women turned out to be a historic one for the Lady Vols, while the Vols vaulted back up the charts at the NCAA meet.
The Lady Vols enjoyed their best year in 2013 on the national stage, rallying to finish third place in the NCAA Championships. The team won its first three NCAA relay titles in program history: the 200 freestyle relay, the 200 medley relay and the 400 medley relay. Senior Kelsey Floyd swam a leg on all three championship teams. Lindsay Gendron reached the A Final in all three of her individual events. In diving, Tori Lamp was named the National Diver of the Year and Dave Parrington was voted the National Diving Coach of the Year.
A young Vols squad improved six places at the NCAA Championships from a year ago. Junior Sam Rairden, who earned three individual silver medals at the SEC Championships, picked up honorable mention All-America honors in the 100 freestyle. Freshman Sean Lehane did the same in the 200 backstroke. The highlight of the Vols' national meet was a seventh-place finish by the 800 freestyle relay team. Diver Brent Sterling earned the NCAA Elite 89 Award for the second-consecutive year.
2011-12 (Women)
SEC Finish: 2nd // NCAA Finish: 7th
The 2011-12 season was banner year for Tennessee both individually and as a team. The Lady Vols finished second in the SEC Championships in the first conference meet held in Tennessee's Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. The Lady Vols finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, the highest finish for the team since 1989, when they finished fourth nationally.
Jenny Connolly wrapped up her career as one of Tennessee's most decorated swimmers with 22 All-America honors. She won four gold medals at her final SEC Championships. Kelsey Floyd earned seven All-America honors, six of them first team.
Between the men and women, 17 swimmers qualified for the 2012 USA Swimming Olympic Trials. Floyd made the finals in both the 100- and 200-butterfly. Former Lady Vol Magnuson was third in the 50 freestyle. Connolly was sixth in the 100 backstroke.
2010-11 (Women)
SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 12th
Seven Big Orange swimmers combined to earn 28 All-America accolades in 13 events at the 2011 NCAA Championships. Of those 28 certificates, 12 were First-Team honors, as Jenny Connolly, Kelsey Floyd and Lindsay Gendron all earned First-Team accolades individually and on relays.
The trio also combined with Martina Moravcikova, to win an SEC Championship in the 400y medley relay at the SEC Championships. Connolly was also a standout performer at the league championships, having a record day by taking home gold in the 100y back and 100y fly.
Tennessee was named a College Swimming Coaches Association Scholar All-America Team by having a team GPA above a 3.00, 20 members of the UT women's swimming program were named to the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll.
The Lady Vols also had a successful summer circuit, as Jenny Connolly won a gold and a silver medal at the 2011 World University Games. At the Games, she set a meet record in the 50m fly, while just missing her second gold medal in the 100y back, as she finished runner-up. She also took third in the 100y back at the 2011 USA Swimming National Championships and was a member of the second-place 4x100 medley relay quartet along with Kelsey Floyd, Lindsay Gendron and Molly Hannis.
2009-10 (Women)
SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 13th
In 2009-10, six Lady Vols, including five repeat All-Americans, captured 21 All-America certificates in nine events. As a team, the Big Orange brought back its second consecutive 13th-place finish at the NCAA meet back to Rocky Top.
The 200y medley relay squad of Connolly, Alex Barsanti, Floyd and Michele King set the best relay time in UT history to finish second in the nation. Freshmen Samara Gelb and Kelsey Floyd burst onto the scene as well. Gelb set a Lady Vol record in the 200y breast at the SEC Championships and Floyd earned All-America honors in four relay events.
In summer 2010, Christine Magnuson won her third straight U.S. title in the 100m fly and current Lady Vols Tricia Weaner, Morgan Farrell, Aleksa Akerfelds, Connolly, Tori Richmond, Kirstyn Colonias, Brooke Watson, Floyd and Breanna Folk all competed at the ConocoPhillips USA National Championships as well.
2008-09 (Women)
SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 13th
In 2008-09, Kredich guided eight Lady Vols to 20 All-America certificates, as the Big Orange sent a school-record 12 participants to the national championship meet in College Station, Texas, where UT placed 13th. There, the 200y medley relay team of King, Jamie Saffer, Weaner and Connolly became the first relay in school history to place in the top three at the NCAA meet.
King and Saffer also became the second and third Lady Vols to capture SEC individual titles under Kredich, as the Big Orange grabbed a second straight fourth-place finish at the conference championships.
Kredich's fourth season in Knoxville started out with a bang, as the Lady Vols began the season with an 8-0 record in dual meets before narrowly losing to undefeated and then-No.1-ranked Georgia. Tennessee finished the year 8-2 in duals, including wins over perennial Big Ten powers Indiana and Michigan and conference rivals Kentucky, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Kredich also sent a UT-record 12 athletes to the NCAA Championships.
In the summer of 2009, Kredich trained four athletes who were on the USA Swimming National Team. Magnuson won the 100y fly at World championship trials, King qualified for the World University Games, where she earned a silver medal in the 50 freestyle and gold in the 400y medley relay and Connolly made the USA National A-Team for the second consecutive year.
Kredich was named to the USA's World University Games coaching staff, helping to lead the team to tremendous success in Belgrade, Serbia, where Lady Vol Martina Moravcikova represented her home country of Czech Republic.
2007-08 (Women)
SEC Finish: 4th // NCAA Finish: 8th
In 2008, the Lady Vols placed eighth at the NCAA Championships, as well as fourth in the SEC. UT also went 5-3 in dual meets with all three losses coming against teams ranked in the nation's top three at the time.
In addition to Magnuson's NCAA title, Kredich saw nine other Lady Vols earn All-America honors, as UT grabbed honors in 13 events. The eighth-place finish at NCAAs, coupled with the 10th-place effort in 2007, gave Tennessee back-to-back finishes in the top 10 at the national meet for the first time in school history.
The Lady Vols followed consecutive fifth-place conference finishes with a breakthrough fourth-place showing at the 2008 SEC Championships. Magnuson won three individual events and was part of a victorious relay en route to earning the prestigious Commissioner's Trophy, awarded to the female who earned the most points for her team. Akerfelds also was named SEC Freshman of the Year.
2006-07 (Women)
SEC Finish: 5th // NCAA Finish: 10th
Kredich guided Tennessee to a 4-4 dual meet record during the 2006-07 season against some of the nation's top programs, a fifth-place finish at the SEC Championships and a 10th-place position at the NCAA Championships.
For the first time in 11 years, the Lady Vols cracked into the top 10 at the NCAA Championships by scoring in 11 of 15 events they entered. The team brought home 26 All-America certificates for their efforts and set six school records.
The Lady Vols placed fifth for the second straight year at the 2007 SEC Championships and Kredich crowned his first SEC champion when Magnuson snagged first in the 100y fly. She also broke her own school records in the 100y and 200y freestyle, and UT swimmers medaled in four events.
2005-06 (Women)
SEC Finish: 5th // NCAA Finish: 12th
In Kredich's first season at Tennessee, the team broke 11 of the 19 school records in swimming events. Tennessee sent eight swimmers to the NCAA Championships in 12 events and vaulted from 24th in 2005 to a 12th-place NCAA finish in 2006 while earning 27 All-America honors.
At the SEC Championships, UT swimmers broke five school records as the Big Orange scored in every event contested. The fifth-place finish was a marked improvement over the previous season's seventh-place showing.
The Lady Vols also had a successful dual meet season in Kredich's first year. Tennessee's 5-2 mark -- its highest dual meet win total since 1998-99 -- included victories over Louisville, Northwestern and SEC rivals Alabama, South Carolina and Kentucky.
RICHMOND HEAD COACH (2001-05): Kredich was hired as the head coach at Tennessee after dramatically turning around the University of Richmond women's squad. During Kredich's tenure, the Spiders sent their first-ever swimmers to the NCAA Championships, had their first-ever All-Americans, and won their first-ever conference championships. In his four years at Richmond, the Spiders won four Atlantic 10 Championships while Kredich was named conference coach of the year all four years. His Spiders also were selected by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as an Academic All-America squad from 2002-04.
BROWN HEAD COACH (1993-2001): Prior to that, at Brown University, he turned a 2-9 women's swimming program in 1992 into Eastern Women's Swimming League Champions in 1996 and 1997. His teams then competed solely in the Ivy League and went on to win the 1998 and 1999 conference crowns. Additionally, he also energized the Brown men's team, which was coming off a 3-8 mark when he took over the team in 1996. He led the Bears to four consecutive winning seasons and four top-five finishes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League. In the process, he was recognized as the EISL Coach of the Year in 1996 and 1997. He also earned EISL Men's Coach of the Year in 1998. In his nine seasons with the Bears, he coached 50 all-conference performers, four Honorable Mention All-Americans, and several Olympic Trial qualifiers, Olympic Trial finalists and two Olympic athletes. In the classroom his athletes collectively achieved 12 Academic All-America team awards, one first-team Academic All-America award and several post-graduate scholarships.
ASSISTANT COACHING CAREER: Prior to coaching at Brown, Kredich was the assistant men's swimming coach at Harvard from 1991-92. He also has served as an assistant women's swimming coach at Stanford (1990-91) and as a graduate assistant coach for the men's and women's swim teams at Duke (1988-90).
COLLEGIATE SWIMMING CAREER: As a standout backstroker at Duke, he garnered All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-Academic honors and was a seven-time U.S. National qualifier. Kredich received a B.A. in biology from Duke in 1988 and received his M.A. in teaching degree from Duke in 1990.
FAMILY: A native of Durham, N.C., Kredich and his family reside in Knoxville. His wife Kimberley is a choral conductor, artist and advocate for children with disabilities. They have three sons: Benjamin, Miles and Coleman.
