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Utah Swimming & Diving Announces Staff Additions
7/27/2011 12:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
July 27, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah swimming & diving team has added assistant coaches Jonas Persson and Lisa Pursley to its coaching staff, fifth-year head Greg Winslow announced.
"Both Jonas and Lisa swam at the highest levels," Winslow said. "They're both former NCAA All-Americans and Jonas made it to the finals of the Olympics in 2008, so they'll bring a wealth of knowledge about the sport and competing at the highest level."
The addition of two members to the coaching staff is a welcome development for Winslow and the Utes.
"It really lightens the load," Winslow said. "It won't be less work, but we'll be able to be more creative, productive, and call more athletes during recruiting. When prospects get phone calls from Jonas and Lisa, they're going to be excited about the University of Utah."
Persson has competed against the highest levels of international swimming, including the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he was a member of the fifth-place 4x100 free relay and finished 11th in the 4x100 medley relay. Persson was a part of the European champion 4x100 free relay in 2008 and the bronze medalist squad in 2010. He remains a Swedish record-holder and the No. 2 sprint freestyler in the history of Sweden.
"Not only does he have international experience, but he's also been an NCAA All-American," Winslow said. "Jonas has experienced the Pac-12 after starting his collegiate career at the University of Arizona. He transferred to the University of Tennessee, which is in the second-best conference in the country, the SEC."
During his collegiate career, Persson set seven school records at Tennessee where he was an All-American and team captain for the Volunteers.
In the classroom, Persson obtained a Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Sports Studies and a Bachelor of Business Administration from UT and also served as a graduate assistant on the staff of 2011 SEC Coach of the Year, John Trembley. He was an Academic All-American and SEC Academic Honor Roll selection in 2007 and 2008, working primarily with the sprint group. Persson helped expand Tennessee's international recruiting network by communicating with athletes, coaches and parents in 16 different countries.
Persson has already put his education into practice as he has conducted contract negotiations with the Swedish Olympic Committee and a top-five swim team in Sweden.
Pursley was a three-time All-American at Arizona and was also named an Academic All-American, earning the Mary Roby Academic Achievement Award as well. In 2006, the Olympic Trials qualifier helped the Wildcats to the Pac-10 championship.
"Lisa is from the University of Arizona so she has Pac-12 ties already," Winslow said. "She knows what we're up against and exactly what we need to do to succeed."
She graduated from Arizona with a B.A. in Elementary Education in 2007 and has worked as a swimming coach at the Phoenix Swim Club while pursuing her master's degree at Arizona State. Pursley previously swam under Winslow while attending Coronado High in Colorado Springs.
"Lisa swam for me in high school where she was a High School All-American, state champion and Olympic Trial qualifier," Winslow said. "She knows me personally and how I coach. It is a blessing to have her on staff."
During the summer of 2008, Pursley worked for the Auburn Tigers swim camp where she helped create and coach dry land and swimming workouts for high school athletes. The following summer, she was an assistant coach for the Pine Crest swim team in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., under the direction of head coach Jay Fitzgerald.
Last year, Pursley was an assistant swimming coach at Rutgers University under head coach Phil Spiniello.
Pursley's family has a swimming background. David Pursley, her brother, is a record-holding former Ute swimmer. Her father, Dennis Pursley, is the former Director of USA Swimming and is currently the Director of Swimming for Great Britain.
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