Jacques Swanepoel Named Columbia's First-Ever Varsity Squash Coach
9/1/2009 4:00:00 PM | General, Men's Squash, Women's Squash
NEW YORK -- Jacques Swanepoel has been named the first-ever Head Coach of Squash at Columbia University, Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education, announced today. The men and women's squash programs will begin varsity competition in Fall 2011.
“Jacques helped Trinity College to unprecedented collegiate squash success, and we have no doubt that he is the right person to build a winning tradition here at Columbia,” Murphy said. “We are extremely excited for squash to begin as Columbia's 30th and 31st varsity sports program in the Fall of 2011.”
A former member of the South African National Squash Team, Swanepoel was a two-time All-American at Trinity, and helped lead the Bantams to four consecutive national championships. Swanepoel served as a captain at Trinity as a senior, and was named the team's Most Improved Player in back-to-back seasons (2005-06). Prior to his time at Trinity, Swanepoel was the No. 2 ranked junior player in South Africa, and participated on the country's U-19 national team.
Swanepoel has worked as a coach at the high school and club levels, and is very involved in the national and international squash community.
Most recently, he served as the primary coach for all club camps and clinics at the Fairmount Athletic Club in King of Prussia, Pa. There, he was the personal coach for numerous nationally-ranked players, and helped develop and organize academic programs.
Swanepoel earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College in environmental science in 2007.
