Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Swim Programs Announce Hirings
7/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
July 20, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern University men's and women's swimming and diving programs named a pair of new assistant coaches as well as a new diving coach and a volunteer assistant who will work with both programs.
Tom Michael was named as the Wildcats' new diving coach. He will work with both the men's and women's divers.
Michael has been the head diving coach at Eastern Michigan for the last six years, earning Mid-American Conference Diving Coach of the Year in 1996 and 1997. Last year, he was the Region 4 Diving Coach of the Year. During his tenure, 15 EMU divers qualified for the NCAA Diving Zone Championships while three won MAC titles. Michael has also been the head diving coach of the Great Lakes Eagles, a Junior Olympic program.
A 1986 graduate of Eastern Michigan, Michael enjoyed a stellar diving career. He was a five-time MAC champion and the conference's Diver of the Year three times. Currently, he is the world high-dive champion from 80, 90 and 100 feet.
NU men's coach Bob Groseth named Sergio Lopez as his new assistant.
An experienced mentor, Lopez comes to NU from his position as head coach of the Hillenbrand Aquatics Club in Tucson, Ariz. Lopez is also a top-notch swimmer, having been a two-time Olympian and former European record-holder. Swimming for Spain, he captured bronze in 1988 and fourth place in 1992 in the 200-meter breaststroke. He is the former European and U.S. Open recordholder in that event, and from 1986-96 he was world ranked in six separate events.
Lopez attended Indiana before transferring to American University, from which he graduated in 1992. He was a nine-time All-American in the breast and IM events.
NU women's coach Jimmy Tierney named Kari Woodall as his new assistant.
A 1996 graduate of the University of North Carolina, Woodall was the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Swimmer of the Year in 1995 and 1996 and a five-time All-American. She competed for the United States in the 1995 and 1997 World University Games, helping the U.S. set a meet record that still stands in the 800 free relay in 1995 and serving as a co-captain in 1997. Still competitive as a swimmer, she was a member of the 1999 Pan-Pacific Team. Next month, she will compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Woodall has worked at UNC as a volunteer assistant coach since 1997, and has also been instrumental as an assistant and masters coach in the North Carolina Aquatic Club in Chapel Hill. During the last several summers, she has been co-director of the North Carolina Swimming Camp.
Jarod Schroeder was named head coach of the Northwestern Aquatic Swim Association (NASA), a club program, and will also be a volunteer assistant for both Wildcat intercollegiate programs. Schroeder was a volunteer assistant at Wisconsin (1996-97) and Northern Illinois (1997-98).
A 1995 graduate of Northern Illinois, Schroeder was a three-time conference swimmer of the year and won seven individual conference titles. He set three conference and 10 school records. In addition, he was a two-time Collegiate Swimmer of the Year and the 1998 Swimmer of the Year as voted on by the Illinois Swimming Association. In 1998, Schroeder competed for the United States in the Goodwill Games, and last summer he won two silver medals at the Pan-Am Games.
