Poppell Named to World University Games Coaching Staff
Thursday, July 13, 2017 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Games Take Place August 20-27 in Taiwan
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Florida men's and women's swimming & diving Associate Head Coach Jeff Poppell was named to the World University Games coaching staff, as announced by USA Swimming.
Poppell, who is entering into his second year at Florida, will serve on the men's coaching staff, overseeing the 22 men competing.
He is thrilled to have the opportunity to coach for the United States, including coaching the Gators that made the squad.
"I'm extremely honored to have been provided this opportunity by Gregg Troy and USA Swimming National Team Direction Frank Busch to serve as an Assistant Coach for Team USA at the World University Games," Poppell said. "We have assembled an outstanding team of athletes including several Gator swimmers."
Those Gators are Maxime Rooney, Mitch D'Arrigo and Grant Sanders, who earned a spot on the team after their performances at the Phillips 66 National Championships. During the 2016-17 season, Rooney became Poppell's first athlete to win SEC Male Rookie of the Year at Florida.
"We are all looking forward to representing the United States in Taipei," Poppell said.
Poppell's first season with the Gators saw numerous achievements, including four national championships. In the 2016-17 season, he helped coach Caeleb Dressel to his fourth, fifth and sixth National Championships in the 50 Free, 100 Free and 100 Butterfly. He also coached Mark Szaranek to the 200 IM National Championship, the first of his career.
He tutored 11 of the women's swimmers and two divers into qualifying for the NCAA Championships as well; 11 of the 13 will be returning to the team for the 2017-18 season.
The Jacksonville, Fla. native's accomplishments do not just come as a coach though, as a student-athlete at University of Georgia, Poppell was a four-year letter winner and team captain for the Georgia Bulldogs' swimming team.
He qualified for the NCAA Championships twice and was an Honorable Mention All-SEC and academic All-SEC honoree. He earned one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals while competing for the United States at the 1993 Maccabiah Games in Israel. To this day, the Bulldog program remembers his contributions to the team with the annual presentation of the Jeff Poppell Award for Leadership.
The Games are set to take place from August 20-27 in Taipei, Taiwan.
