With 15,000 swimmers and divers in Florida, St. Thomas University has path toward success
The St. Thomas University Bobcats, who are starting a swimming and diving program that will begin its inaugural season this fall, have named Keith Coghlan as their first coach.
Coghlan, who was an MVP swimmer at Florida Atlantic and a conference champ at Eastern Michigan, is an assistant coach at Keiser University and will officially begin the STU job March 10.
Florida could be ripe for STU recruiting, with more than 15,000 high school swimmers and divers in the state.
“I’m confident we can be an NAIA national contender within three or four years,” said Coghlan, 31.
Coghlan said his experience helping to start the Keiser program has taught him what to look for and avoid at STU.
“With a new program, especially when you start recruiting late in the game, some of the available athletes may have classroom or behavior issues,” Coghlan said. “With more time to recruit, we can bring in talented athletes who will also do the right things on a daily basis.”
In addition to recruiting, Coghlan’s initial priorities will include finalizing the schedule for STU’s first season and finding a facility where the Bobcats can train. Eventually, Coghlan would like to be able to hire a diving coach and also have an on-campus facility as the program grows.
THIS AND THAT
▪ MDC’s baseball team is off to a 12-3 start in the first year under coach Adrian Morales, who replaced Danny Price. MDC’s new pitching coach is Bryan Morgado, a former Florida Christian and University of Tennessee lefty who was the Phillies’ fourth-round pick in 2010. Antonio Alvarez is Morales’ do-it-all coach, working on a variety of things including strength and conditioning.
▪ Barry’s baseball team, ranked 15th in the nation in NCAA Division II, was off to its best nine-game start ever at 9-0 before dropping two straight games to NSU this past weekend. Barry’s No. 15 ranking is their highest since they were 10th in 2014.
▪ LaSalle University’s new pitching coach is former Miami Hurricanes standout Bryan Radziewski. After a 28-7 record at Miami, Radziewski was a ninth-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2014 and arrived at LaSalle after one season as an assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson. LaSalle is off to a 4-2 start and is on a three-game winning streak.
▪ Former Miami Columbus standout Hernen Sardinas is a top candidate for Player of the Year honors in the American East Conference. Sardinas, a senior center fielder, started all 49 of Maine’s games last year and led the league in homers. Sardinas hit .298 with 14 doubles, two triples and a .909 OPS. Sardinas is off to a .364 start this year even though Maine is 0-6.
▪ Former Monsignor Pace star Jorge Arenas is now a senior shortstop and the team captain at Stetson. He is a fourth-year starter and is hitting .240, helping the Hatters get off to a 6-1 start.