New Head Coach for Swim Ireland Performance Centre

New Head Coach for Swim Ireland Performance Centre

~ Former Olympic Coach to arrive in Ireland on Tuesday, 20 March ~

Swim Ireland has today (Monday, 19 March 2007) announced the appointment of Canadian Olympic Swim Coach, Steve Price as new Head Coach at Ireland’s first ever High Performance Swimming Centre based in the University of Limerick.

Previously located at Canada’s National Performance Centre in Vancouver, Steve will be working to put Ireland’s first High Performance Swimming Centre at University of Limerick at the forefront of Irish swimming. He will develop, manage and implement a performance programme at the University of Limerick for squad members, university students and national team members.

For the past eight years, Steve Price coached at the Vancouver National Swim Centre and UBC Dolphins Swim Club and during that time worked with many of Canada's top swimmers, including Mike Mintenko, Taryn Lencoe and Brent Hayden.   He has been a coach with Canada's National Team since 1995, attending numerous international competitions and Games.  He was on the 1996 Olympic staff in Atlanta, where his swimmer, Andrea Schwartz, placed 5th as part of Canada's 4x200 Free Relay.

"I am very excited to be coming to Ireland to help produce a winning programme. I'm looking forward to getting started. With the Olympics in London 2012, the opportunity for the swimmers to excel and represent their country in their own backyard is a fantastic opportunity.  I hope to contribute towards Swim Ireland achieving a top performance at those Games," said Steve commenting on his appointment.      

“We are delighted to welcome Steve to this role. He is joining us at a very important time and his international experience will no doubt inject energy into the work of Irish swimming’s first ever performance centre where we hope to put Irish swimmers on a par with international swimmers in terms of winning training programmes and facilities,” said Tony Farrell, Chairman of Swim Ireland, commenting on the appointment.

The appointment is funded by Swim Ireland, Irish Sports Council and University of Limerick and in the role Steve will report to Keith Bewley, Swim Ireland’s Head Coach. Steve arrives in Ireland on 20 March and his new role will take effect immediately.

For further information please contact:

Sarah Ryan, Drury Communications

01 260 5000 / sryan@drurycom.com