Northwestern University Athletics
Robinson Announces Gayo and Socha as Assistant Coaches
8/21/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern Director of Swimming and Diving Katie Robinson announced the addition of assistant coaches Ignacio Gayo and Milana Socha Friday morning.
"We are elated to welcome Ignacio and Milana to our coaching staff and Wildcat family," said Robinson. "Their strengths and experiences complement our staff, allowing us to provide a world class experience for our student-athletes. Furthermore, their contagious positive energy aligns with the spirit that we all bring to the pool deck making it, a very fun environment."
Ignacio Gayo joins the Wildcats after serving as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida International, starting in 2017. During his time at FlU, he served as head coach Randy Horner's right-hand man, coaching sprint events and overseeing the Panthers international and domestic recruiting efforts.
He also helped lead FIU to their sixth-straight conference title in 2019 while coaching Naomi Ruele to her fourth consecutive NCAA appearance, in which she broke the school record in the 100 Back.
As an student-athlete, Gayo served as team captain at Missouri State from 2004 to 2008 and was named Missouri State Freshman of the Year in 2004. He also earned All-Missouri Valley Conference selections in 2004 and 2005.
Robinson on Gayo: "Ignacio brings a rich experience of coaching elite sprinters. He also has international ties that will aid in our recruiting efforts. What I love is that he is a constant learner. We have a very collaborative coaching staff, and I see all of us getting better by adding him to our coaching squad."
Milana Socha joins Northwestern after serving three seasons as the assistant coach at Dartmouth College. In her time under head coach Jamie Holder, Socha supported student-athletes in and out of the pool through coordinating team training and practice planning, recruiting and fundraising. She also implemented the "Why We Coach" program for the Dartmouth Athletic department while working with the Director of Peak Performance.
Before her coaching stint in Hanover, she served as an assistant coach at the University of Toledo where she spearheaded recruiting efforts and dryland practices for the Rockets and assisted in administrative duties including coordinating travel and fundraising. She worked her way up the ranks at
Smith College, where she served in multiple roles including head assistant women's swimming coach, interim head strength and condition coach and teaching fellow.
As a four-year letter winner at Carleton College in Minnesota, Socha graduated with a degree in Geology in 2014. She was captain for the 2013-14 season and earned NCAA Division III All-America honorable mention honors in 2014. The Chesterton, Ind. native was a 13-time all-conference selection in swimming and also lettered in cross country and track and field for two years. Socha earned her master's in exercise science and sports studies from Smith in 2016.
Robinson on Socha: "Milana is a student-athlete centered coach with an incredible work ethic. She pays careful attention to detail and holds herself to a high level of integrity. What I love is that she never hesitates to be available for student-athletes, building lasting relationships beyond eligibility. Her selflessness and her ability to help her swimmers drop significant time will be a great asset to our coaching staff and team."
The Wildcats will return 11 NCAA Championship qualifiers to the 2020-21 roster, led by 2020 Big Ten Champions Calypso Sheridan and Markie Hopkins for the women and school record holder Federico Burdisso for the men. The 'Cats will look to build off of the 2020 Big Ten Championship where they tallied a combined 13 school records, 4 NCAA 'A' Cuts, three Big Ten Championships and two top-five finishes.
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Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
"We are elated to welcome Ignacio and Milana to our coaching staff and Wildcat family," said Robinson. "Their strengths and experiences complement our staff, allowing us to provide a world class experience for our student-athletes. Furthermore, their contagious positive energy aligns with the spirit that we all bring to the pool deck making it, a very fun environment."
Ignacio Gayo joins the Wildcats after serving as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida International, starting in 2017. During his time at FlU, he served as head coach Randy Horner's right-hand man, coaching sprint events and overseeing the Panthers international and domestic recruiting efforts.
He also helped lead FIU to their sixth-straight conference title in 2019 while coaching Naomi Ruele to her fourth consecutive NCAA appearance, in which she broke the school record in the 100 Back.
As an student-athlete, Gayo served as team captain at Missouri State from 2004 to 2008 and was named Missouri State Freshman of the Year in 2004. He also earned All-Missouri Valley Conference selections in 2004 and 2005.
Robinson on Gayo: "Ignacio brings a rich experience of coaching elite sprinters. He also has international ties that will aid in our recruiting efforts. What I love is that he is a constant learner. We have a very collaborative coaching staff, and I see all of us getting better by adding him to our coaching squad."
Milana Socha joins Northwestern after serving three seasons as the assistant coach at Dartmouth College. In her time under head coach Jamie Holder, Socha supported student-athletes in and out of the pool through coordinating team training and practice planning, recruiting and fundraising. She also implemented the "Why We Coach" program for the Dartmouth Athletic department while working with the Director of Peak Performance.
Before her coaching stint in Hanover, she served as an assistant coach at the University of Toledo where she spearheaded recruiting efforts and dryland practices for the Rockets and assisted in administrative duties including coordinating travel and fundraising. She worked her way up the ranks at
Smith College, where she served in multiple roles including head assistant women's swimming coach, interim head strength and condition coach and teaching fellow.
As a four-year letter winner at Carleton College in Minnesota, Socha graduated with a degree in Geology in 2014. She was captain for the 2013-14 season and earned NCAA Division III All-America honorable mention honors in 2014. The Chesterton, Ind. native was a 13-time all-conference selection in swimming and also lettered in cross country and track and field for two years. Socha earned her master's in exercise science and sports studies from Smith in 2016.
Robinson on Socha: "Milana is a student-athlete centered coach with an incredible work ethic. She pays careful attention to detail and holds herself to a high level of integrity. What I love is that she never hesitates to be available for student-athletes, building lasting relationships beyond eligibility. Her selflessness and her ability to help her swimmers drop significant time will be a great asset to our coaching staff and team."
The Wildcats will return 11 NCAA Championship qualifiers to the 2020-21 roster, led by 2020 Big Ten Champions Calypso Sheridan and Markie Hopkins for the women and school record holder Federico Burdisso for the men. The 'Cats will look to build off of the 2020 Big Ten Championship where they tallied a combined 13 school records, 4 NCAA 'A' Cuts, three Big Ten Championships and two top-five finishes.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
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