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St. Cloud State Names New Swimming and Diving Coach

Aug 22, 2000

St. Cloud, Minn. - St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Dr. Morris Kurtz has announced the appointment of Derek Chaput (pronounced cha-poe) as head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving programs at St. Cloud State University. He replaces Diane Heydt, who resigned at the end of the 1999-2000 season at SCSU.

Chaput most recently served as the aquatics director and as an instructor of health and professional studies at Georgia Southern University, an NCAA Division I program located in Statesboro, Ga. He served as Georgia Southern's head men's swimming coach from 1996 until the program was discontinued in 1999. Chaput has also worked as the head coach for the Statesboro-Buloch County Sharks (SBCS), an age group swim team, since 1995. In March, the SBCS program gained United State Swimming status.

A 1994 graduate of Georgia Southern, Chaput received his master's of science degree from Georgia Southern in 1996. Prior to being named head coach of the men's program at Georgia Southern in 1996, Chaput was interim head coach of the men's and women's swimming programs at GSU in 1996. He also served as an assistant coach with the GSU programs from 1994-96. As an undergraduate student, Chaput competed for Georgia Southern's swimming team.

"We are very excited to have Derek join our department," Kurtz said. "His experience as a collegiate coach and athlete will be a definite plus for our program at SCSU. I am confident that he will carry on the outstanding tradition of success that was established by coach Diane Heydt during her tenure in St. Cloud."

Chaput takes over a very solid SCSU swimming and diving program. In 1999-2000, the Huskies placed fifth at the NCAA Division II women's championships and 16th in the men's championships. At the 1999-2000 North Central Conference championships, the Huskies placed third in both the men's and women's competition. A total of 10 women's records and four men's record were broken during the 1999-2000 season, as the Husky women posted a perfect 5-0 dual meet record and the men were 4-1.