Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Names Kathleen O'Dell Men's & Women's Assistant Swimming Coach
6/15/2001 8:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
June 15, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Kathleen O'Dell, a 1999 graduate of Bloomsburg University, has been named as an assistant coach for the men's and women's swimming & diving program at Bucknell University.
O'Dell comes to Bucknell after serving as the graduate assistant coach at Lehigh University the past two years. While a member of the Mountain Hawk staff she assisted in all areas of coaching, including on-deck coaching, workout and meet line up preparation, mentoring and guidance, academic support, and on and off-campus recruiting.
"Kathleen has the extra advantage of knowing the Patriot League," said Bison head coach Jerry Foley. "She will be able to step into our program with that knowledge and contribute right away. She already knows the competition and the coaches, and that will help immensely with preparation for the league championship meet."
Foley admits he is eager to get O'Dell on board as soon as possible. "Kathleen is energetic and enthusiastic and that will carry over to our athletes in the pool. She will be a great addition to our staff here at Bucknell."
Her primary responsibilities with the Orange and Blue will include assisting in all phases of coaching, and serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. She will work specifically with the stroke and mid-distance athletes.
O'Dell was a four-year letterwinner on the swimming team at Bloomsburg, where she earned All-American honors her senior season. She was a three-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selection, and was awarded the league's scholar-athlete award in each of her final three years with the Huskies. A member of the Dean's List at Bloomsburg, O'Dell graduated with a degree in English and Political Science.
She went on to obtain her master's degree in Secondary Education, English and Social Studies from Lehigh in 2001.
O'Dell is a fellow with the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) and is in the midst of a two-year research project for that organization. "Kathleen's involvement as an ASCA fellow will help to keep Bucknell informed of the current happenings in the national organization," said Foley.
Bucknell sponsors 28 intercollegiate sports, 14 each for men and women, at the Division I level (I-AA in football). It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship trophy in eight of the 11 years it has been contested. Bucknell continually ranks among the top institutions in student-athlete graduation rate in Division I every year, and ranks third in Division I in producing Verizon Academic All-Americans.
