UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State swimming and diving head coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron announces the hiring of Nicole McConnell as and Assistant Coach. McConnell is the final member of the swim and dive coaching staff and brings eight years of coaching experience.
"Nicole brings with her an impressive resume with having the experience of working several years under Steve Bultman at Texas A&M,” said Bonewit-Cron. “I am looking forward to working with her and to see the energy she brings to elevate our program on all levels. I am excited to have her knowledge and understanding of the sport in coaching our student-athletes!"
McConnell comes to Happy Valley after three years of coaching at Texas A&M University, starting as a volunteer assistant coach then getting elevated to assistant coach in July of 2023. In her role with the Aggies, she assisted coaches in practices and meets developing training and improvement strategies. McConnell’s coaching led A&M to a third-place SEC and 14-place NCAA placements and helped nine athletes quality for the 2024 Olympic Trials. She also helped guide three top-25 finishers at NCAA Championship.
Beginning her coaching career in 2016, McConnell spent two years with the Longview Swim Club based out of Texas where she developed swimmers to quality for Sectionals and Futures meets. She later went on to serve as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Evansville for two seasons, working with both men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams. McConnell assisted coaches with player development and administrative duties, stepping up as interim head coach twice and managing all coaching responsibilities.
McConnell earned her degrees in interdisciplinary studies from LeTourneau University in 2018 and a master’s degree in leadership from the University of Evansville.