GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida women’s swimming and diving Head Coach Jeff Poppell announced the hiring of former University of Wisconsin Head Coach Whitney Hite on Monday. Coach Hite has 20 years of collegiate coaching experience with some of the nation’s top swimming and diving programs.
“Throughout his career, Whitney has consistently established himself as one of the best young coaches in the United States,” said Coach Poppell on the hiring of Coach Hite. “I have no doubt that he will be a valuable addition to our women’s program and instrumental in our team’s success moving forward!”
Hite most recently spent seven years as the Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach with the Wisconsin Badgers where he helped develop 25 Big 10 Champions and 103 All-Americans. Under his guidance, Drew TeDuits won an NCAA title in the 200 Back at the 2013 NCAA Championships while U.S. National Team Member Ivy Martin posted a NCAA Runner-up finish in the 50 Free at the 2015 NCAA Championships. In 2018, Beata Nelson finished 2nd in the 100 Back at the NCAA Championships recording the 3rd fastest time in history in the event. For his efforts at Wisconsin, Whitney was named the Head Men’s Coach for the U.S. at the 2017 World University Games, as well as an Assistant Men’s Coach for the U.S. at the 2015 World Championships.
Prior to Wisconsin, he served two years as an Assistant Coach with the University of Arizona where he helped the Wildcats to four Top 5 team finishes at the NCAA Championships and three years as the Assistant Women’s Coach at the University of California-Berkeley assisting them to three Top 10 NCAA finishes. Whitney began his coaching career in 1998 at the University of Georgia where he served as an Assistant Coach for five years and helped Georgia win three consecutive NCAA Women’s National Championship titles and two NCAA Runner-up finishes.
Hite, originally from Denver, Colorado, swam collegiately at the University of Texas under head coach Eddie Reese and was a member of their 1996 Men’s National Championship team. After completing his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management in 1997, Hite went to the University of Georgia where he earned his master’s degree in Education in 2001.
Poppell also announced the additions of Danielle Galyer and Delaney Dye to the Gators staff.
Poppell is excited to have Galyer and Dye, “We’re thrilled to have both Danielle and Delaney join our program!”
Galyer has joined as the women’s swimming volunteer assistant coach. She was a four-year standout for the women’s swimming and diving program at the University of Kentucky. Galyer was the school’s first swimmer to win a national championship when she took the 200-yard backstroke crown at the 2016 NCAA Championships. A four-time First Team All-American, three-year All-Southeastern Conference selection and two-year member of the USA National Team, she finished fifth overall in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2016 US Olympic Trials.
“Danielle, a former NCAA Champion and finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year, will be a tremendous resource and model for our women swimmers and divers. She brings a wealth of experience as both a former student-athlete in the SEC and member of the U.S. National Team,” Poppell added.
Galyer was named one of the Southeastern Conference nominees for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year. The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership. Double majoring in psychology and political science, the Greenville, S.C. native was selected the Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year for both her sophomore and junior campaigns and was awarded the NCAA Elite 90 Award in 2016 and 2017. She also served as Kentucky’s SAAC president for two years and was a member of the SEC Community Service Team in 2016.
This past year, Galyer served as an assistant swimming coach for the Gator Swim Club while also pursuing her law degree at the University of Florida.
Coach Poppell on the addition of Dye, “Delaney is a former stand-out Gator diver and recently completed an internship with Athletic Operations at UF. She is an extremely sharp individual, and I am confident she will provide great support for our men’s and women’s programs!”
Dye was named the program coordinator for the University of Florida men’s and women’s swimming & diving program. From 2012-2016, she competed as a diver for the University of Florida Women’s Swimming & Diving team. Dye was a three-year honoree on the SEC Academic Honor Roll, a 2014 & 2015 CSCAA Honorable Mention Scholar-Athlete All-American, and was recognized for her community service efforts as a member of the 2015 & 2016 SEC Community Service Team. The Tallahassee native just completed her master’s degree at the University of Florida while working as an Intern in the Operations and Facilities Department for the University Athletic Association.
The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the University of Florida Swimming and Diving. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
Congrats to Whitney, Helen Hite!
Thank you!