Knoche named head swimming and diving coach at Olivet College
Elise Knoche has been named head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at Olivet College, according to an announcement by Athletic Director Heather Bateman.
OLIVET, Mich. – Elise Knoche has been named head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at Olivet College, according to an announcement by Athletic Director Heather Bateman.
“I would like to thank Heather Bateman, Greg Mallek and the rest of the search committee for affording me this great opportunity to lead the swimming and diving programs at Olivet,” said Knoche. “The Olivet College community was incredibly open and welcoming on my visit, and I cannot wait to start working with all of the talented student-athletes, coaches, faculty and staff.”
Knoche most recently served as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs at University of St. Thomas (Minn.) for the last three years. While there, she assisted in all aspects of the program, including aiding in stroke technique modifications, creating meet lineups, writing training workouts, recruiting student-athletes and creating strength and conditioning workouts. In addition, Knoche coached eight swimmers who qualified for the 2012 NCAA Championship meet.
Prior to joining the staff at St. Thomas, she was an assistant men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at Oberlin (Ohio) College during the 2008-09 season and an interim assistant men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at Carleton (Minn.) College in 2007-08. She also has coaching experience with the Badger Aquatic and Hill Farm Swim clubs in Madison, Wis.
Knoche earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Carleton in 2006 and master’s degree in kinesiology from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2011. At Carleton, she was a four-year letterwinner on the women’s swimming and diving team. Knoche was an 18-time All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) swimmer, including six MIAC championships. A two-time NCAA All-American, she was also named a 2005 Academic All-American.
“I am extremely excited about the addition of Coach Knoche to our Comet family,” said Bateman. “She brings a wealth of DIII knowledge not only as a coach but as a former student-athlete. I am looking forward to the future of our swimming and diving program.”