Sports
Komisarz-Baugh Brings Hefty Resume To Ohio Swimming
By: Patrick Gifford
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Former Associate Men’s and Women’s swim coach at the University of Louisville Rachel Komisarz-Baugh has been named the new Bobcats’ Swimming and Diving head coach.
Komisarz-Baugh helped to turn the Louisville program into a championship contender over the last five years. Louisville’s women’s program is currently ranked No. 13 nationally, and the university’s men’s program is ranked No. 15 nationally. The two programs placed a total of 15 swimmers in the NCAA Championships, with the men’s seven qualifications setting a school record.
The Cardinals are also fresh off of a sweep of the American Athletic Conference Championships. The two squads combined to win eight races and both relays. The championship success was not unfamiliar for Louisville. Last season the Louisville women’s squad left the Big East with a third consecutive conference title.
That performance helped Komisarz-Baugh become a finalist for College Swimming Awards’ Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013.
Komisarz-Baugh also headed recruiting for Louisville and designed the Cardinals’ workout program.
All of the coaching and recruiting success Komisarz-Baugh has experienced comes after an illustrate career of her own.
The Warren, Mich., native was a member of the 2004 USA Olympic team and was able to bring home a gold medal and a silver medal. Komisarz-Baugh was a member of the 800 free relay that won gold and the 400 medley relay that placed second.
Before her Olympic run, Komisarz-Baugh was a three-time SEC Champion and a seven-time NCAA All-American at the University of Kentucky. She was also named the SEC Swimmer of the Year and won the SEC Commissioner’s Award.
Upon her graduation from Kentucky, Komisarz-Baugh took to the international stage to continue swimming. There she became a five-time World University Games medal-winner in 2001. This tied the most medals won by a female swimmer during the games.
After her achievements at the 2004 Olympics, Komisarz-Baugh returned to the pool. In 2005 she qualified for the World Championships in Canada and in 2006 she became a national champion for the second time. The next year Komisarz-Baugh won her third national championship in the 100 fly.
Komisarz-Baugh has won 23 International medals and broken five American Records and one World Record.