By Texas A&M Athletics
Published: May. 21, 2024 at 7:00 PM CDT
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - First-year Texas A&M Director of Swimming & Diving Blaire Anderson fortified her initial coaching staff in Aggieland with the addition of a trio of experienced swim coaches.
Joining the Aggies are Wes Foltz as associate head coach and Duncan Sherrard and Allyson Sweeney as assistant coaches. Anderson also announced the retention of diving coaches Jay Lerew and Jeff Bro.
“The opportunity to have Wes, Allyson and Duncan join the Aggie Swim & Dive family is an honor,” Anderson said. “These great coaches care about the student-athlete experience and will add energy and creativity on a daily basis. With their efforts, in addition to a phenomenal diving program led by Jay Lerew and Jeff Bro, the Aggies will build toward and contend for SEC and NCAA Championships.”
Foltz comes to Texas A&M after one season at UCLA where he helped lead the women’s team to a No. 22 finish at the NCAA Championships, its highest national finish in five years and up 12 spots from the previous season. Overseeing the Bruins’ sprint crew, Brooke Schaffer took down the 50- and 100-meter freestyle school records and the 400 medley and 400 free relays posted the second-fastest times in school history. Additionally, Eva Carlson earned an NCAA invitation in the 100 breaststroke. He served five seasons at Virginia, where he helped the men’s and women’s teams to multiple top 10 NCAA finishes, including two national titles, as an assistant coach from 2017-22 and served as head age group coach for Cavalier Aquatics from 2021-23. A 2012 graduate of Towson, Foltz also served coaching stints at NC State and USC.
“I’m honored with the opportunity to be a part of the Texas A&M athletic department and community,” Foltz said. “I can’t wait to get back on deck with Coach Anderson and I look forward to continuing the deep tradition that is Texas A&M Swimming and Diving.”
A 14-time All-America swimmer and team captain at Florida, Sherrard spent the past seven years coaching in the SEC with stints at South Carolina from 2021-24 and Auburn from 2018-21. He served as the Gameco*cks’ lead recruiter for the men’s team and coached four swimmers to school records. At Auburn, Sherrard helped the team set 10 school records and earn nearly 40 All-America honors, while also mentoring three 2021 Olympians. Before coming to the SEC, Sherrard was at North Carolina where he oversaw the sprint group for the Tar Heel men’s and women’s team, which produced an ACC Champion in the men’s 100 butterfly and an ACC meet record in the women’s 50 freestyle. He served as head coach at Florida Southern from 2009-15 where he was a four-time Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year and his men’s and women’s teams combined for nine NCAA top 10 finishes. He coached nine NCAA Champions – eight individuals and four relays – and a total of 38 All-Americans during his time in Lakeland.
“I am so thankful for Blaire, for giving me this opportunity to join the Aggie family,” Sherrard said. “From the moment she was hired I was intrigued by her vision and what she wants to do at A&M. I can’t wait to get to know the team, contribute to her vision, and be an Aggie.”
Sweeney, who swam for Texas A&M from 2009-14 and helped the Aggies to a pair of Big 12 Conference titles, returns to Aggieland after serving as the head coach at Georgia Southern from 2022-24. While in Statesboro, Sweeney oversaw all facets of the women’s team, including recruiting, staff and roster management, budgetary oversight, NCAA compliance, alumni engagement and marketing. Prior to GSU, Sweeney was an assistant coach with focus on the endurance-based swimmers for the men’s and women’s teams at North Carolina from 2019-22. She helped the Tar Heel women post a pair of top 15 NCAA finishes and the men’s team to a top 25 finish in 2021. She served collegiate coaching stints at Auburn (2018-19), Florida Southern (2017-18) and Texas A&M (2014-15) and as a club coach at Lakeland Area Swimming and SwimAtlanta.
“My experiences at Texas A&M University — including my athletic & academic careers — have heavily influenced my personal life’s journey,” Sweeney said. “Being extended a new opportunity to return — to honor the legacy of former Aggie student-athletes while elevating current and future generations — is a humbling moment.”
Copyright 2024 KBTX. All rights reserved.
