Swimming and Diving Adds Tracy Slusser as Temporary Assistant Coach
February 20, 2024 | Swimming & Diving
LOS ANGELES โ UCLA head swimming and diving coach Jordan Wolfrum announced on Wednesday the hiring of Tracy Slusser as a temporary assistant coach for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. The addition of Slusser to the coaching staff comes as Wolfrum is set to take maternity leave to welcome the birth of her first child.
Slusser arrives in Westwood with over 11 years of experience as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Stanford, highlighted by three consecutive NCAA Championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
"Bringing Tracy on deck for our championship meets while I am unable to travel gives my team two incredibly important things," Wolfrum said. "First, they get another coach on deck with experience and passion who will support them in our biggest moments this season. Secondly, they get to see what women supporting women in our sport looks like. They get to see love, friendship, and family and how it only elevates the elite sporting experience at the highest levels. Our team also gets to see that one day, if they choose, they too can be a mom and a leader in their chosen field."
In addition to the three national championships, Slusser helped lead the Cardinal to seven Pac-12 titles, mentored six Pac-12 Swimmers of the Year, coached eight Pac-12 Newcomers of the Year, and guided Stanford to 18 relay national championships, and 30 individual national champions during her time on the Farm.
Slusser also had a great impact on the success of USA Swimming and the US National Team during her time at Stanford. She supported Cardinal student-athletes in all levels of international competition, including as a head coach and assistant coach at the World University Games (2017, 2019). Additionally, in the summer prior to Stanford's 2017 NCAA season, Slusser helped train Maya DiRado, Simone Manuel and Lia Neal, with the group combining to win nine Olympic medals (four gold) at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"Although short-term, I am very honored and excited to step into this role as an assistant coach for the UCLA swim team during the championship season," Slusser said. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for Jordan, as both a colleague and close friend. She has built a very qualified and talented team and staff, and it will be a fun few weeks being able to work with them. As part of a 'higher-level' aspect of this temporary coaching opportunity, I am hopeful that this can serve as a model and template for coaching in all collegiate sports when very important parts of life happen outside of the sport and time away is needed, whether it be for maternity, paternity, or medical leave."
Associate Head Coach Karissa Kruszewski will take Wolfrum's place as acting head coach for the remainder of the season.
"For 10 years, I've had an incredible friendship with Tracy, during which we have frequently shared ideas and debated how to be and support better coaches in our sport," Wolfrum said. "Tracy and I share a particular passion for elevating women coaches in the sport of swimming and diving, a sport in which there are far too few. When I learned I was pregnant, I immediately called Tracy, and we got to work on building a plan that would support my needs as a new mom, as well as my passion for and commitment to this amazing team."
The UCLA swimming and diving team is next in action at the Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Washington, February 28 to March 2.
ย
Slusser arrives in Westwood with over 11 years of experience as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Stanford, highlighted by three consecutive NCAA Championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
"Bringing Tracy on deck for our championship meets while I am unable to travel gives my team two incredibly important things," Wolfrum said. "First, they get another coach on deck with experience and passion who will support them in our biggest moments this season. Secondly, they get to see what women supporting women in our sport looks like. They get to see love, friendship, and family and how it only elevates the elite sporting experience at the highest levels. Our team also gets to see that one day, if they choose, they too can be a mom and a leader in their chosen field."
In addition to the three national championships, Slusser helped lead the Cardinal to seven Pac-12 titles, mentored six Pac-12 Swimmers of the Year, coached eight Pac-12 Newcomers of the Year, and guided Stanford to 18 relay national championships, and 30 individual national champions during her time on the Farm.
Slusser also had a great impact on the success of USA Swimming and the US National Team during her time at Stanford. She supported Cardinal student-athletes in all levels of international competition, including as a head coach and assistant coach at the World University Games (2017, 2019). Additionally, in the summer prior to Stanford's 2017 NCAA season, Slusser helped train Maya DiRado, Simone Manuel and Lia Neal, with the group combining to win nine Olympic medals (four gold) at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"Although short-term, I am very honored and excited to step into this role as an assistant coach for the UCLA swim team during the championship season," Slusser said. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for Jordan, as both a colleague and close friend. She has built a very qualified and talented team and staff, and it will be a fun few weeks being able to work with them. As part of a 'higher-level' aspect of this temporary coaching opportunity, I am hopeful that this can serve as a model and template for coaching in all collegiate sports when very important parts of life happen outside of the sport and time away is needed, whether it be for maternity, paternity, or medical leave."
Associate Head Coach Karissa Kruszewski will take Wolfrum's place as acting head coach for the remainder of the season.
"For 10 years, I've had an incredible friendship with Tracy, during which we have frequently shared ideas and debated how to be and support better coaches in our sport," Wolfrum said. "Tracy and I share a particular passion for elevating women coaches in the sport of swimming and diving, a sport in which there are far too few. When I learned I was pregnant, I immediately called Tracy, and we got to work on building a plan that would support my needs as a new mom, as well as my passion for and commitment to this amazing team."
The UCLA swimming and diving team is next in action at the Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Washington, February 28 to March 2.
ย
Portraits of Culture - Emily Lo
Thursday, May 20
UCLA's Tom Stebbins earns Pac-12 Diving Coach of the Year honor
Tuesday, April 02
UCLA's Maria Polyakova takes home Pac-12 Women's Diver of the Year honors
Tuesday, April 02
Maria Polyakova Wins 2019 Pac-12 1M Championship
Friday, March 01