Bloomington native, former Indiana University standout and 1976 Olympian Jennifer Brinegar has been named the new head swimming coach at Franklin College.
She succeeds Zach Rayce, who departed after two seasons to become the aquatic director and head coach at Indian Creek High School.
"Jennifer Brinegar is one of the most accomplished names in the history of Indiana swimming, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Franklin College," Griz athletic director Lance Marshall said in a press release Tuesday, Sept. 1. "Her championship pedigree, years of coaching success and her deep roots in this state's swimming community make her the ideal person to lead our program into its next chapter. Our student-athletes are going to learn from someone who has competed and coached at the highest level, and that's a tremendous opportunity for Griz athletics."
Brinegar attended Bloomington South High School before moving to Louisville, Kentucky to train and find more competition. Girls swimming was not offered as a competitive sport by the IHSAA in 1974-75.
She made the 1976 U.S. Olympic team as a 15-year-old and made the final in the women's 200-meter freestyle while also swimming in a preliminary heat for the gold-medal winning 400 free relay. She went on to win a pair of national championships in 1977, a gold medal in the 400 free relay at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships and a silver in the 800 free at the 1979 Pan American Games.
#indiana #high
She succeeds Zach Rayce, who departed after two seasons to become the aquatic director and head coach at Indian Creek High School.
"Jennifer Brinegar is one of the most accomplished names in the history of Indiana swimming, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Franklin College," Griz athletic director Lance Marshall said in a press release Tuesday, Sept. 1. "Her championship pedigree, years of coaching success and her deep roots in this state's swimming community make her the ideal person to lead our program into its next chapter. Our student-athletes are going to learn from someone who has competed and coached at the highest level, and that's a tremendous opportunity for Griz athletics."
Brinegar attended Bloomington South High School before moving to Louisville, Kentucky to train and find more competition. Girls swimming was not offered as a competitive sport by the IHSAA in 1974-75.
She made the 1976 U.S. Olympic team as a 15-year-old and made the final in the women's 200-meter freestyle while also swimming in a preliminary heat for the gold-medal winning 400 free relay. She went on to win a pair of national championships in 1977, a gold medal in the 400 free relay at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships and a silver in the 800 free at the 1979 Pan American Games.
#indiana #high
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