RELEASED:  Monday, May 21, 2007

Rollings Named UW-Whitewater Swimming and Diving Coach

Whitewater, Wis.--Joel Rollings has been hired as the swimming and diving coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

"We are very excited that Joel has accepted the permanent position as our head swimming and diving coach," said UW-Whitewater director of athletics Paul Plinske.  "His knowledge, passion and integrity have already lifted this program to new heights.  He will make an immediate splash in southeast Wisconsin as a credible coach that possesses wonderful personality traits.  We look forward to watching him develop a top-notch program for many years to come."

Rollings will coach both Warhawk swim and dive teams, women and men, and serve as an instructor in UW-Whitewater's department of health, physical education, recreation and coaching. 

"I'm grateful that Dr. Paul Plinske and Dr. Jeff Barnett (Dean, College of Education) have given me the opportunity to stay on as part of the UW-Whitewater community," said Rollings.  “UW-Whitewater is going through a number of dynamic changes on the campus and in athletics, and I'm excited to be a part of it.

"The 2006-2007 season was a fantastic professional experience for me," added Rollings.  "The administration was great to work with, and the student athletes were receptive to the changes we made and the work we did.  It is my hope that our success this year will aid in building this program to the next level."

Rollings served as the interim coach for the past season after joining the staff just prior to the start of the 2006-2007 school year.  Under his guidance this past season the Warhawk men set seven school records and the women's team set four school marks.  UW-Whitewater diver Eva Miller qualified for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III championship in both the one and three meter events.

Rollings swam competitively for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1991-1993) and has coached at the high school, club and collegiate level. 

Prior to coming to Whitewater, Rollings served as the interim assistant swim coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the fall of 2005, preceded by four years as the head coach for the Germantown (WI) Swim Club.  After a stint as a graduate assistant coach for Texas Christian University from 1996-1998 he moved to the head age group coach for the highly respected Phillips 66 Splash Club in Oklahoma (1998-2000), preceded by a stint as a graduate assistant coach for Texas Christian University (1996-98).  His first coaching job, from 1992-96, was as the head boy's and girl's coach at Grafton (WI) High School.

Rollings swam for UW-Milwaukee (1991-93), and graduated from UW-M in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.  While in school he also played fro the Milwaukee water polo club team.  He received a master's in liberal arts from Texas Christian in 1998.

Rollings is the coaches representative for Wisconsin Master's Swimming, and the Senior Chair for Wisconsin Swimming.  He has also served as a USA Swimming Zone Site Selection Committee member, and has attended several age group conferences and workshops.  He has certifications in Red Cross First Aid, Red Cross CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator, lifeguard training, coaches safety training, and a holds a certified pool operator's license.