Andrew Hancock named inaugural women's swimming and diving head coach at West Florida

Argonauts to start competing in 2013-14

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of West Florida Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Andrew Hancock as the UWF women’s swimming and diving team’s inaugural head coach. Hancock, a former 10-time champion as a student-athlete in the Horizon League, will assume the position in his first collegiate head coaching role.

“Andrew has been identified as one of the top assistant coaches in the country,” said UWF athletic director Dave Scott.  “We believe with his experience and passion for the sport he will be able to build a competitive swimming and diving program at UWF.  As a former college swimmer, he brings another perspective to assist in developing our student-athletes.”

Hancock will be the first head coach in the program’s history. The women’s and swimming and diving program will begin competition in the 2013-14 season.

"I am very excited to be entrusted with a unique opportunity to build an NCAA swimming and diving program from the ground up,” Hancock said. “Argonaut athletics is moving forward, and I can really identify with the ambition of the athletic department and the university as a whole. The facility here is outstanding, and will make the perfect home for a strong women's swimming and diving team. It won't be easy, but I feel that UWF has the potential to be recognized in swimming at the regional and national level - hopefully sooner rather than later."

Hancock spent the last five years as the assistant coach for the men’s and women’s swimming and diving program at his alma mater, Cleveland State University.  In 2011 Hancock was tabbed by CollegeSwimming.com as one of the top swimming and diving assistant coaches in the country as an honorable mention selection for the Assistant Coach of the Year award.

During the 2011-12 season at CSU, Hancock helped lead both the men’s and women’s teams to runner-up finishes in the Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships. In his five-year term he helped the men’s team earn at least 10 wins each year and the women’s team to 15 wins in the 2010-11 season. In his time at Cleveland State, the women’s swimmers he recruited broke every school record in the program’s history.

Before coaching at CSU Hancock competed as a student-athlete for the Vikings for four seasons on the men’s swimming and diving team. In that time he was named Horizon League Swimmer of the Year in 2002 and won six individual titles, including the 1,650-yard freestyle in each of his final three seasons.

Hancock also was the first Viking to break the four minute mark in the 400-yard individual medley. He also helped the team to four consecutive conference titles as a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team.

Hancock graduated from CSU in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. He is married to former Viking swimmer Rebecca Guerra, and they have one son, Oliver.

Hancock will be formally introduced as the new West Florida women’s swimming and diving head coach at a press conference in August.  Details of that event will be announced at a later date.  For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.

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