LEWISTON, Maine – Bates College head swimming and diving coach Peter Casares has announced the hiring of Ellen Varley as assistant coach for the Bobcats' men's and women's swimming and diving programs.

Joining returning assistant coach Boomer Druchniak, Varley's addition completes the Bobcats' staff.

Varley comes to Bates following a standout collegiate career at St. Olaf College (Minn.), where she was a four-year member and senior captain of the Oles' varsity swim team. In addition to her competitive success, she served as a recruiting assistant at her alma mater, helping develop and implement recruiting strategies, coordinating campus visits, and creating digital content for prospective student-athletes.

She also brings extensive coaching experience, having served as a coach for the St. Olaf Swim Camp, where she led high-performance practices, conducted one-on-one video stroke analysis, and mentored senior campers in their athletic and personal development.

Varley has a long background in youth swim instruction, teaching ages 2–12 in essential swimming techniques, water safety, and confidence-building skills and has been actively involved in athletic leadership initiatives. She was vice president of St. Olaf's Student-Athlete Advisory Board, represented student-athletes on the Ole Leadership Academy, and was the sole women's student-athlete representative on the College's Athletic Director Search Committee.\

"We are thrilled to welcome Ellen to our staff; Her success as a student-athlete and her deep swimming knowledge were immediately apparent and impressive," said Casares. "What truly set her apart, however, was her ability to connect with others, her professionalism, and her knack for finding solutions to every challenge — qualities that make us excited to work alongside her."

"I'm honored to join a program that excels both academically and athletically," added Varley. "I'm also excited to work alongside such an outstanding coaching staff and with student-athletes who are motivated to succeed. I look forward to helping this program build on its proud tradition of success."

Varley earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Business Management from St. Olaf in May 2025.