BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College Department of Athletics & Recreation has named Mary Ellen Wydan as the inaugural Head Men's and Women's Swimming Head Coach as the Greyhounds prepare to add the two new varsity sports in the 2021-22 academic year.
"It is my pleasure to introduce and welcome Mary Ellen Wydan to the Moravian family," commented Director of Athletics & Recreation Mary Beth Spirk. "With the generosity of a donor, Mr. Fred Reinhard, the swimming program became a reality, and Mary Ellen will have the distinction of being the first swim coach in the history of our school. Her resume is extensive with stops at La Salle, Kentucky and Michigan State, among others. We are looking forward to competing in the Landmark Conference with Coach Wydan leading our team."
Wydan has nearly 20 years of coaching experience with stops as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Michigan State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Maryland and Purdue University and as Women's Head Coach at NCAA Division II Oakland University. Wydan comes to Moravian from La Salle University where she has served as the Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator since 2001.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank President Bryon Grigsby and Athletic Director Mary Beth Spirk for this fantastic opportunity to be the first Head Swimming Coach at Moravian College," stated Wydan. "I am beyond excited to be given leadership of a new athletic program and to bring the vision of the College to fruition. To know that the President and the Athletic Director had the forethought to add additional opportunities for students and have the support necessary to make it happen is a tremendous indicator of the commitment to the program and the strength of the college. Thank you to all the members of the College and the search committee who made my appointment possible.
"I love the concept of creating a team from the foundation up," Wydan continued. "There are challenges without a history or upperclassmen leaders, but I'm looking forward to developing a sound foundation of scholar-athletes who will have an integral influence over the future success of the swimming program.
Wydan, who has maintained her swimming coach certification while working as an administrator at La Salle, spent five years as an assistant coach at Michigan State where she helped in coaching four All-Americans, one Big Ten Champion and one U.S. Olympic Team alternate. In three seasons at Kentucky, Wydan assisted with 13 All-American swimmers, and in her one year at Maryland, Wydan also served as Assistant to the Compliance Coordinator. During her three years as an assistant at Purdue, Wydan helped send swimmers to the NCAA Division I National Championships from 1988-90 as well as the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1988. She began her career at Oakland with 42 All-Americans in four years and led her women's program to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships in 1984.
"I'm most excited about returning to the day to day interaction with student-athletes and having a positive impact on their daily lives," Wydan noted. "Swimming is the vehicle we will use to challenge ourselves to the best that we can be, to test resolve, use critical thinking and engineer solution strategies on a daily basis.
"My expectations are for the student-athletes to be scholars first and to have great character. I expect the student-athletes to work hard to be their best version of themselves, to move positively toward their goals each day whether those goals are academic, athletic or personal. Our shared performance partnership will be built on my coaching to enhance their athletic and life skills and their commitment to becoming a well-rounded student-athlete with an incredible career and future. I am excited to find those student-athletes who will define Moravian Swimming," finished Wydan.
The Hounds, who will have 22 varsity sports once swimming joins the department, made the announcement in late February that swimming will begin competition in the Landmark Conference immediately in 2021-22, and both swim teams will train at Liberty High School for practices and all home meets.
