A proven winner and developer of multiple NCAA champions, Tanica Jamison has been named the eighth head coach in University of Houston Swimming and Diving history. University of Houston Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman made the announcement on Thursday.
Jamison, who has served as the associate head coach for the women’s program at Texas A&M since 2016 and as an assistant coach since 2011 for the Aggies, replaces Ryan Wochomurka, who was named the head coach at Auburn on April 23.
“We are excited to welcome Tanica Jamison as the new head coach of our Swimming and Diving program,” Pezman said. “She has proven to be an elite developer of talent but also is committed to providing our student-athletes with outstanding experiences during their time at the University of Houston. In addition, Tanica’s achievements as a two-time NCAA Champion and 11-time All-American, along with the respect she has in the swimming community, make her a great fit to lead our program.”
Jamison comes to UH after helping the Aggies rise to one of the top women’s programs in the country. During her time in College Station, Texas A&M won five conference titles (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019).
Tanica Jamison at Texas A&M. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
“I am extremely excited and humbled for the opportunity to become the Head Coach of the Women’s Swimming & Diving program at the University of Houston,” Tanica Jamison said. “I would like to thank Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman, Senior Associate AD Bruce Gregory and Senior Associate AD/SWA DeJuena Chizer for their leadership and trust in my vision for the program.
“The University of Houston has everything in place to provide an elite experience for current and future student-athletes: an athletics department that is committed to building champions both academically and athletically, amazing athletic facilities, an astounding school and a city that provides limitless opportunities. I cannot wait to meet the team, support staff and all former swimmers and divers (both men and women) that have laid the foundation for the future of the program. Go Coogs!”
Jamison helped guide Texas A&M to seven top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a pair of top-3 finishes in 2017 and 2018 along with four straight fourth-place finishes. All of Texas A&M’s swimming school records have been shattered since Jamison’s arrival in College Station.
Jamison trained six Texas A&M student-athletes to NCAA individual titles, 33 SEC champions and 133 NCAA qualifiers since 2012.
Prior to coming to A&M, Jamison worked closely with the sprinter and middle-distance groups for the University of Pittsburgh’s swimming and diving teams and also served as the head senior coach of Team Pittsburgh. In 2010-11, Panther swimmers earned five All-Big East awards and broke four school records.
Tanica Jamison while at Texas. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
An 11-time All-American and two-time NCAA Champion at the University of Texas under then-head coach Jill Sterkel, Jamison was the 2000 Big 12 Freshman and Newcomer of the Year, earned the program’s Leadership Award in 2001 and 2002, was a two-time team captain. She was selected as the team’s MVP in 2003.
Jamison has a long-time association with the National Diversity Select Camp, which began when she was a three-time participant in the mid-1990s and continued when she was invited to serve as a National Team athletic representative in 2007 and head coach in 2011.
Born in Monongahela, Penn., Jamison graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in applied learning and development in 2003. She earned her master’s degree from Texas A&M in 2019 in sports management.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Houston Swimming & Diving. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
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