HEAD COACH AND AQUATICS DIRECTOR Jeni Ritter

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Jeni Ritter, a proven assistant coach with Division I experience, has been named Florida Tech’s first men’s and women’s swimming coach and aquatics director, Athletic Director Bill Jurgens announced on Tuesday, June 7, 2011.

The swimming program, scheduled to make its debut this fall, will be a member of NCAA Division II and the Sunshine State Conference. Ritter will also be tasked with the day-to-day operations of the university’s brand new Panther Aquatic Center.

“When we opened this position, we were looking for someone that possesses several important qualities,” Jurgens said. “We were in search of an individual who could take a new swimming program and help it emerge into a competitive team. We were also in search of someone who could serve as the aquatics director and build a cooperative, service-oriented swimming facility. There is no doubt that Jeni possesses these qualities. She is very excited to join the Florida Tech family. We’re excited to have her oversee our swimming program.”

With her first day at Florida Tech scheduled for Monday, June 13, Ritter is anxious to get started.

“I am extremely excited to become a member of the Florida Tech family,” Ritter said. “Since the announcement of the new Panther Aquatic Center, I have watched the construction progression and can honestly say we have a beautiful state of the art facility. We will not only be able to accommodate both our men’s and women’s swimming team, but also provide aquatic programming for the campus community. I want to thank Athletic Director Bill Jurgens for the opportunity to become the first head swimming coach in school history.

“I must add that none of this would be possible without the support of Saint Francis University head swimming coach Pat Gallagher, Saint Francis Athletic Director Bob Krimmel and Ohio State men’s head coach Bill Wadley. I feel extremely blessed to have them all as mentors throughout this process.”

Prior to landing in Melbourne, Ritter helped guide Saint Francis University to its second consecutive Northeast Conference Championship this spring. For the Red Flash, she worked with all training groups and saw 18 out of 19 school records fall within the 2010-11 season. Outside the water, she monitored the academic progress of the team’s freshmen.

Ritter first gained recruiting experience at the college level during a two-year stint at Florida International University. Along with serving as the primary recruiter for the Golden Panther women, she focused on the team’s in and out of water conditioning and planned community service projects.

While working towards her first of two master’s degrees, she was a volunteer coach for the men’s team at The Ohio State University from 2007-08. Among the areas she focused on were on-deck and dry land training, team travel and coordinating camps and clinics for age-group swimmers.

In addition to assisting the Buckeye swimming program, Ritter helped open the Fort Rapids Indoor Water Park. As the assistant aquatics director, her duties ranged from hiring, training and scheduling staff to strengthening their customer service skills.

Ritter graduated with a bachelor’s in recreation/coaching and minor in sport administration from Ashland University in 2005. She earned her first master’s degree in sports and exercise studies from Ohio State in 2008. This past May, she received her second master’s in higher education administration from Florida International.

The Ohio native swam collegiately at Ashland. She was a five-time All-America honorable mention honoree and served as her team’s captain from 2003-04.

Ritter is certified through the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) and the American Sport Education Program (ASEP). She also holds certification as a lifeguard and lifeguard instructor through the American Red Cross.