Mike Simpson Named Assistant Swimming and Diving Coach
July 3, 2018
COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina head swimming and diving coach McGee Moody announced that Mike Simpson will join the Gamecocks as an assistant coach of the men’s and women’s swimming programs. Simpson comes to South Carolina after spending the previous 19 seasons as the head coach at Gardner-Webb University since the program’s inception in 1999.
“I am so excited to join Gamecock swimming and diving. It’s tough leaving a place where you put down roots for 19 years but my wife and I are ready to take a leap of faith and make a difference in Columbia,” said Simpson.
The announcement of Simpson’s hiring comes one day after the team welcomed Pam Swander as the first new addition to the Gamecocks’ 2018-19 coaching staff. “McGee (Moody) has put together a great staff that’s going to have a lot of fun and a fantastic team culture that Coach Pam (Swander) and I hope to contribute to,” continued Simpson.
Simpson spent his entire collegiate head coaching career at Gardner-Webb after taking over the women’s program in 1999 prior to its first season. He would later oversee the inception of the GWU men’s program prior to the 2007-08 season.
Simpson led Gardner-Webb’s women’s program to four straight Northeast Conference Championships from 2003-07. In nearly two decades at the helm, he was named NEC Coach of the Year on four occasions and had 96 all-conference selections (65 women and 31 men).
“Mike has a wealth of swimming knowledge that he has used to create and build the Gardner-Webb program. His ability to connect with athletes and bring out the best in them is invaluable,” described Moody. “He is one of the country’s best swimming minds and showed me immediately that he cares deeply about our program and investing in the future success of all of our Gamecock swimmers and divers.”
“I am excited to see Mike’s impact on our team culture and the extent to which he will continue to help us climb in the national rankings. This is a dream staff. I couldn’t be happier with the coaches that now make up the Gamecock swimming and diving staff. The future is bright,” concluded Moody.
The Gamecocks continue to compete individually throughout the summer, with the 2018-19 collegiate season set to begin in October. For Gamecock swimming and diving updates, follow on Twitter and Instagram at @GamecockSwim.
