Spring Break
Coach makes splash in interim season
Kollross continues to recruit athletes despite uncertain future at Eau Claire
Matt Hankey
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Sports
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Interim UW-Eau Claire men's and women's swimming coach Jerry Kollross has a plan for himself and his team. He said he wants to see his hard work and recruiting pay off next year and be named the full-time coach for his sport. After one completed season, Kollross said there is much work to be done to get the program where he wants it to be. It's not there yet, but the progress this season has Kollross excited for the future. The first season provided many challenges to build on.
"From this season's standpoint, it was a 21-week adventure - many highs and lows. But having reflected on it for three weeks now, there's very little I would have changed," Kollross said. "I thought the team pulled together despite some adversity and really performed when it mattered the most."
Kollross was referring to the team's success in the conference tournament. He said 95 percent of the men's and women's teams swam their best times at the meet, which were better than last year's times. Kollross attributes his players' success to the training program he installed this year and said it worked "exceedingly" well. His style of coaching differs from previous coach Rob Welcher. Kollross said he aims at creating a very competitive and intense atmosphere in the pool, whereas Welcher focused on the technical aspects of the sport.
Senior Nick Peterson agreed that swimming practices are rigorous, but also blended in an atmosphere of enjoyment.
"He's the kind of guy you enjoy working your butt off for," Peterson said. "It's a good mixture of intensity and fun."
Kollross said building a team through recruitment is valuable for the team. He said he talks with recruits, but it's the current swimmers who actually do the majority of the recruiting and speaking with would-be team members.
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