Swimming Media Guide - New Mexico State University Athletics

QUICK FACTS
recently welcomed the birth of their first child,
Jacob.
“The enthusiasm surrounding the changes being
made and the vision of (Director of Athletics) Dr.
McKinley Boston inspired me to take this job,” Pratt
says. “The potential of Aggie Swimming and Diving
is tremendous as the city of Las Cruces and the
facilities at NMSU should appeal to swimmers all
over the country. This is a great environment to
take this program to the next level and the potential
to become a top 25 program and go to the
NCAA Championships is great. Overall, this is an
exciting move for my family. My wife and I are
looking forward to raising our son here.”
Head Coach - Rick Pratt
First Year
Hometown:
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Alma Mater:
Alabama (2000)
Previous Coaching Experience:
*Assistant Coach, UNLV (2003-05)
*Assistant Coach, Rutgers (2002-03)
*Volunteer Assistant Coach, Alabama ( 2000-02)
*Head Coach, Crimson Tide Aquatics Club (2000-
02)
Accomplishments:
*Helped coach UNLV to 2005 men’s and women’s
Mountain West Conference titles
*Worked with NCAA and Olympic medalist Anne
Poleska at Alabama
*Competed at 1996 Canadian Olympic Trials
Family:
Wife: Melissa; Son: Jacob (age 1)
Rick Pratt enters his first season as Head Swimming and Diving Coach at New
Mexico State University.
Pratt comes to New Mexico State after two seasons as an assistant coach at UNLV,
where he specialized in teaching the breaststroke. This past season, Pratt helped
coach both the men’s and women’s squads to Mountain West Conference titles, the
first of each in school history.
Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Rutgers where he worked with the middle
distance and distance swimmers for the Scarlet Knights. He worked with swimmers
who lowered 22 school records during the 2002-03 season.
Pratt got his coaching start at his alma mater, Alabama, as a volunteer
assistant working with the middle distance and sprint
groups. One of the swimmers he worked with, Anne Poleska,
would go on to win the silver medal in the 200 breaststroke at the
2005 NCAA Championships and the 2005 World Championships
while also taking the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens, Greece. Pratt also spent two seasons as head coach of
the Crimson Tide Aquatics club team.
As a competitor, Pratt was a two-year letterwinner and captain of
the Alabama swim team until graduating in 2000. While swimming
with the Crimson Tide, Pratt was the recipient of the Marshall
Shoemaker Award for efforts in practice. He also participated in
the 1996 Canadian Olympic Trials.
Pratt, a native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and his wife Melissa
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HEAD COACH
RICK PRATT