The 2007-08 season marked Jimmy Tierney's 15th year as head coach and his 21st season of involvement with the Northwestern women's swimming program. Prior to being appointed head coach in 1994, Tierney spent six seasons as the Wildcats' assistant coach. Among the country's most respected collegiate coaches, Tierney has established Northwestern as one of the top women's swimming programs in the nation, both athletically and scholastically. Tierney's teams have had a Big Ten champion 15 out of the 21 years he has been at NU. Prior to 2003, the Wildcats never had finished lower than fourth at the Big Ten Championships under Tierney, and have placed in the top 15 in the country 10 times. In addition, All-America honors have been earned a total of 145 times at Northwestern. Tierney coached Andrea Hupman to All-America honors every season from 2005-2008 and to the Swimmer of the Championships award at the 2008 Big Ten Championships. In addition to the respect he has earned as a coach, Tierney has proved to be a top-flight recruiter, as well. His freshmen classes of 2010 and 2011 were widely regarded as two of the deepest and most talented in the nation, and the current incoming class of 2012 is more of the same. Anecdotal recruiting evidence aside, Tierney's team in 2007-08 proved the program has regained its national prominence held earlier in the decade. The Wildcats placed 22 new entries on their all-time top-10 performers list, broke 10 school records, earned three All-Big Ten honors and sent nine swimmers to the NCAA Championships in 15 different events. In addition, Tierney was elected Big Ten Coach of the Year at the Big Ten Championships. Despite finishing with a 6-4 dual-meet record and losing meets only to teams already ranked in the top-20 in the nation, Northwestern sat just outside the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) coaches poll throughout the entire season. However, the Wildcats ended the season by finishing 19th at the NCAA Championships. Prior to his arrival at NU, Tierney served as assistant coach of the Southern Illinois men's and women's swimming teams from 1986-88. Several of his athletes earned All-America honors during his coaching stint in Carbondale. From 1980-86, Tierney coached the Lakeside Swim Club in Louisville, Ky., one of the nation's most successful clubs during the 1980's. During his tenure, Lakeside captured 10 consecutive state championships (indoor and outdoor) and produced numerous state record holders and nationally ranked swimmers. Three Lakeside swimmers earned spots on the USA Olympic teams from 1980-88. Tierney is a member of United States Swimming and has been appointed to serve on USA National team staffs. In 1999, he was selected to serve as an assistant coach at the World University Games held in Mallorca, Spain. In the summer of 2001, Tierney traveled to Rome, Italy where he served as head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team at the XXXIX Trophy Seven Hills. Tierney again was selected as a coach for the United States' World University Games team in 2007, where he coached Hupman to a pair of relay gold medals and an individual silver medal in the 100 freestyle at the Bangkok Games. At the 2005 American Swim Coaches World Clinic, Tierney was re-elected to the Board of Directors for his fourth term to serve his fellow coaches in the United States. He chairs the Coach of the Year committee which annually recognizes one of its members for its highest honor. During the summer months, he is the co-head coach of Wildcat Aquatics and also serves as director of the Wildcat Swim Camp. Tierney is a native of Louisville, Ky. He earned a bachelors degree in mathematics from the University of Louisville in 1980, then went to Southern Illinois to earn a masters degree in sports administration in 1988. Tierney lives in Wilmette with his wife, Nancy, and their two children, Adam and Samantha. Nancy is the director of fitness/wellness at Northwestern University. |
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