Release courtesy of Shane O'Donnell, Sports Information Director, Tiffin University
TIFFIN, Ohio - Rita Kalmikova has been named
Head Men's and Women's Swimming Coach for Tiffin University. Tiffin
University will add men's and women's swimming and diving to its
athletics mix for the 2013-14 athletic season.
Kalmikova arrives at Tiffin after coaching last season at Bowling
Green State University. Prior to that, she had coached for four
years at Western Kentucky University.
"I am excited about this opportunity," said Kalmikova. " I want to
thank Athletic Director Lonny Allen for seeing the potential in
building a great program. Tiffin University has a lot to offer and
I cannot wait to start building a new culture for swimming
here."
"We are excited about having swimming at Tiffin University," said Athletic Director Lonny Allen. "We are also excited to have it under the direction of Rita. With swimming being a conference sport, we feel her experience at the conference, national, and world level prepares her well to build our program. With her being a former GLIAC swimmer and collegiate coach, she knows what type of student athlete we need."
At WKU, Kalmikova was responsible for the individual
medley and breaststroke swimmers as well as developing mental
preparation techniques for all swimmers and divers. She designed,
planned and implemented workout regimens while also serving as
recruiting coordinator.
Kalmikova's teams enjoyed conference and national success during
her four seasons. The women's swimming and diving team won three
consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships from 2008-2010 and
finished second in 2011. The men's team won the SBC championship in
2010.
At the 2011 SBC Championships, Kalmikova's swimmers won the men's
100 breaststroke, men's 400 medley relay and women's 200 medley
relay. They also won silver medals in the women's 100 breaststroke,
women's 400 IM, men's 200 medley relay and women's 400 medley
relay.
Kalmikova's swimmers set 11 SBC and 53 school records during her
four year tenure. She also helped train butterfly swimmer Claire
Donahue, who was the silver medalist in the 100 butterfly at the
2011 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Donahue, who finished
fourth at the NCAA meet in 2010, set a school record while setting
a new WKU standard for highest-ever finish at an NCAA meet.
Prior to coaching at WKU, Kalmikova was an assistant coach at
Union (N.Y.) College. While there, she helped the Union women's
team set a school record for most points scored at an NCAA
championship meet. The team also broke several records under her
watch. She helped develop strength programs at Union and was the
Head Master's swimming coach.
She also has experience as a volunteer coach for the Latvian
National Swim Team (1997-2001) and as a senior swim coach for the
Bolingbrook Swim Club (2001-2004).
Kalmikova's amateur career included collegiate swimming at Lewis
(Ill.) University, where she graduated in 2005. At Lewis, a GLIAC
swimming and diving institution, she was named Most Valuable
Swimmer twice and served as the team captain. She finished in
second place in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Division II
Swimming and Diving Championships, as she qualified for the
national meet three times. She was also named All-American five
times.
Kalmikova is a two-time Olympian for Latvia. She was a world
championship team member and a four-time World Cup team member. She
was named "Best Latvian Female Swimmer" in 1996 and 2000. She also
holds the Latvian national record in the 200 breaststroke.
Tiffin, a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, joins nine other GLIAC schools in sponsoring women's swimming and diving, while seven GLIAC schools currently offer men's swimming and diving. Wayne State, Grand Valley State, Indianapolis, Northern Michigan, Ashland, Hillsdale, Findlay, Lewis, and Lake Erie offer women's programs, while Wayne State, Grand Valley State, Indianapolis, Ashland, Lewis, Lake Erie, and Findlay offer men's programs. Wayne State was the NCAA Division II Women's National Champion last season.