Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin
Joanne Schickerling Named Interim Head Coach
10/12/2021 3:27:00 PM | Men's Squash, Women's Squash
Schikerling has been a part of Columbia's staff for the past eight years.
NEW YORK—Columbia University Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Peter Pilling announced today that Joanne Schickerling has been named Interim Head Men's and Women's Squash Coach ahead of the 2021-22 season. Schickerling has coached at Columbia for eight years, having arrived in fall 2013 as an assistant coach. She was previously promoted to associate head coach of men's and women's squash in the summer of 2017. Schickerling takes over leadership of the men's and women's squash program following Jacques Swanepoel's departure from Columbia last month. Swanepoel was the first and only head coach in varsity squash history at Columbia.
Schickerling came to Columbia after serving five seasons as an assistant coach for the Trinity College women's squash and tennis programs. At Trinity, she coached one of the top national squash teams to a No. 2 national ranking in her last season. Trinity compiled a 16-2 record and went on to compete in the 2013 Howe Cup National Championship match against Harvard.
Schickerling received her level 2 USA coaching squash certification in 2017 and currently serves on the College Squash Association (CSA) Board and chairs the CSA Women's and DEI committees. She is also involved in leading the community outreach efforts at Street Squash.
As a squash player in South Africa, Schickerling was selected for the junior national team and ranked as high as #6 in the country. She was chosen to represent her province for the national team tournament U19 and competed in the top club league in South Africa. As a coach, Schickerling was also selected to manage the junior provincial team at the national tournament 2003-2004. As a student-athlete, she competed at Indiana State University in women's tennis and helped her team win the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in 2008 to qualify for the NCAA National Championship.
The athletics department will conduct a national search for a permanent head coach in the spring.
Schickerling came to Columbia after serving five seasons as an assistant coach for the Trinity College women's squash and tennis programs. At Trinity, she coached one of the top national squash teams to a No. 2 national ranking in her last season. Trinity compiled a 16-2 record and went on to compete in the 2013 Howe Cup National Championship match against Harvard.
Schickerling received her level 2 USA coaching squash certification in 2017 and currently serves on the College Squash Association (CSA) Board and chairs the CSA Women's and DEI committees. She is also involved in leading the community outreach efforts at Street Squash.
As a squash player in South Africa, Schickerling was selected for the junior national team and ranked as high as #6 in the country. She was chosen to represent her province for the national team tournament U19 and competed in the top club league in South Africa. As a coach, Schickerling was also selected to manage the junior provincial team at the national tournament 2003-2004. As a student-athlete, she competed at Indiana State University in women's tennis and helped her team win the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in 2008 to qualify for the NCAA National Championship.
The athletics department will conduct a national search for a permanent head coach in the spring.
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