USC Removes Interim Tag on Lea Maurer as Head Coach

Photo Courtesy: USC Athletics

USC Removes Interim Tag on Lea Maurer as Head Coach

Lea Maurer, who served as USC’s men’s and women’s swimming head coach last season on an interim basis, has had that tag removed, the school announced Friday.

Maurer is the first female coach to lead the combined men’s and women’s program at USC. The head coach of the women’s team at her alma mater Stanford from 2006-12, she arrived at USC in July 2020 as an associate head coach.

“I am so excited for the opportunity to continue building on the amazing tradition at USC,” Maurer said in a university release. “I want to say thank you to Mike Bohn, Carol Folt, Fred Uytengsu and Lindsay Jaffe for all of their support over the past year and for the trust they have placed in me as we move forward together. So many great Trojan swimmers — including Kristine Quance Jullian, John Naber and so many others — subscribed to the notion that they were a part of something bigger than themselves, and that belief resulted in NCAA team titles. Character counted for those teams, and I believe that these ideals still resonate at USC. I can’t wait to spread the word to recruits that these powerful tenants of the Trojan Family were the foundation for our past successes and they will be the building blocks for USC’s return to the top. Troy is such a special place, and it is with you for a lifetime. Fight on!”

Maurer helped USC improve its NCAA finishes for both the men’s and women’s teams in 2022. The men went from 22nd in 2021 to 16th, the women from 27th to 26th. The women’s team had a 5-2 record in dual meets, finished third at the Pac-12 championships and produced an NCAA champion in 100 breaststroke winner Kaitlyn Dobler.

“We are very fortunate and proud to name Lea Maurer the permanent head coach of our men’s and women’s swimming program,” athletic director Mike Bohn said. “Lea demonstrated her tremendous leadership and relationship-building abilities over the past few months leading our teams. Her values align with our vision to be the most student-athlete centered program in the country. Lea is highly regarded nationally for her character and coaching prowess, and she possesses the Olympic and championship pedigrees to which our student-athletes aspire. We are committed to partnering with Lea as she leads our swimming program’s continued ascension back to national prominence.”

Maurer replaced Jeremy Kipp, who was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation in October and resigned in March.

Maurer (nee Loveless) was an accomplished swimmer, winning bronze in the 100 backstroke at the 1992 Olympics to go with gold in the medley relay. She also won the 100 back World Championships in 1988 to go with medley relay gold. She spent a year at Florida before transferring to complete her college career at Stanford, winning three NCAA titles and becoming a 21-time All-American.

As the coach of Stanford, Maurer helped the Cardinal win Pac-10 titles in 2010 and 2011. She led them to seven consecutive top-five finishes at NCAAs.

“I could not be more excited for the future of the USC swimming and diving programs,” said USC grad and Maurer’s former relay teammate, Kristine Quance. “Lea has done an incredible job in the toughest of positions and now will have an opportunity to improve on the culture and bring USC back to where it belongs in collegiate swimming.”

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