Bucknell University Athletics
Craig Strong Named Assistant Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Coach
11/3/2003 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 3, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Head swimming and diving coach Jerry Foley has named Craig Strong assistant swimming and diving coach, complementing a staff that includes Judson Aungst, Sandy Elion, Sean Martin, and Errol Carter. Strong joins the staff following one year at Albright College in Reading, Pa. and will assist the Bison as they look to defend their 2003 Patriot League men's and women's swimming and diving championships, the first school to win both the men's and women's crowns in the same season.
"He is from Pennsylvania and is familiar with Pennsylvania swimmers from coaching club and YMCA teams, which is a big plus for our recruiting efforts," Foley said. "He has great deck presence from being a head coach [at the club and YMCA levels], and the athletes are excited to have him."
During his time at Albright, the Lions won the Middle Atlantic Conference swimming title on the women's side for the fourth consecutive time in 2003, and for the first time on the men's side since 2000. Strong's head coach, Jenis Frederick, won both men's and women's Coach of the Year honors in the conference. At the 2003 MAC Championships, Albright took home titles in nine events on the men's side, and five events on the women's side.
Strong is a 1995 graduate of West Chester University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy and is presently finishing graduate work in the subject as well. While at West Chester, Strong earned four varsity swimming letters and served as a team captain his senior year. Since his graduation, Strong spent eleven years coaching at the club and YMCA levels before joining the staff at Albright. The Norristown, Pa. native currently resides in Lewisburg and continues to compete in triathlon events.
With an undergraduate enrollment of 3,350 students, Bucknell sponsors 26 intercollegiate sports, 14 for women and 12 for men, at the Division I level (1-AA in football). It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship in 10 of the 13 years it has been contested. Bucknell ranked first in the nation in the graduation rate of its student-athletes according to the most recent NCAA report, and the university ranks third in Division I in producing Verizon Academic All-Americans.
