July 5, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina swimming and diving head coach McGee Moody announced the promotion of assistant coach Jason Memont to associate head coach on Thursday.
Memont, who is entering his sixth season at South Carolina, had held the title of assistant coach since joining the program in September of 2007.
“Jason and I have been working side by side for almost a decade,” Moody said. “I trust every decision he makes. I think this is just a small way to reward him for his loyalty to our program. We look forward to him continuing to help us grow as a team.”
Memont is primarily in charge of the Gamecock distance swimmers, which have been a key component of South Carolina’s success in his tenure. Most recently he helped junior Michael Flach reach the finals of the 200-meter butterfly at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb. Flach became the first Gamecock to make the finals at the U.S. Trials since 1988.
“This is a very exciting time to be a part of South Carolina swimming and diving,” Memont said. “I’m humbled by the promotion because I know it is a direct reflection of the dedication and hard work of my swimmers.”
In 2011, Memont saw Flach win his second straight bronze medal at the SEC Championships in the 500-yard freestyle and advance to the NCAA Championships, where he earned his first All-America certificate with a 15th-place finish. He has also guided Brooks Ross, Matt Columbus and Gerard Rodriguez to finals appearances at the SEC Championships.
Prior to arriving at South Carolina, Memont spent three seasons on Moody’s staff at William and Mary. During his time with the Tribe, Memont helped produce eight Colonial Athletic Association champions, 80 school top-10 times, 10 school records, and 293 lifetime-best swims. The 2005-06 women’s swimming team set school records for wins in a season, conference wins in a season, conference winning percentage, and highest place at the CAA meet, while the men’s team posted the most wins in seven years.
Memont joined the Tribe after spending the previous two and a half years as head coach of the YMCA North Shore swim team in Ipswich, Mass. Overseeing all swimmers ages 5-18, 20 of his swimmers went on to Division I programs under his guidance. He also coached five YMCA qualifiers during his tenure.
An accomplished collegiate swimmer at Rochester Institute of Technology from 1996-2001, Memont won the Empire 8 conference title in the 200 breaststroke his senior season. He also counted two third-place finishes at conferences in the 200 IM as a junior and in the 100 breaststroke as a senior. He raced to NCAA provisional marks in the 200 IM and 400 IM and holds five school records (200 IM and all four relays). Named varsity captain in 1999 and 2001, Memont also served as an assistant coach in his final two seasons, helping three national qualifiers.
