Bates College

In April 2016, Vanessa Williamson was promoted to associate head swimming coach at Bates after serving as an assistant coach the previous four years. 

A 2005 Bates graduate and eight-time All-America performer in the butterfly and individual medleys, Williamson joined head coach Peter Casares's coaching staff in 2012 after coaching at the high school and club level in California for five years. Casares said he recognized Williamson's coaching talent right away. 

"After watching her coach her first year I handed over nearly half of the team to her and put her in charge of the sprint group," he said. "Her first year training that group led to many successes and she immediately followed it up her second year as Vanessa not only coached three NESCAC champions in the sprint events [Matt Gagne in the 50 butterfly, Whitney Paine in the 50 backstroke and Logan McGill in the 50 freestyle], but Bates' first ever NESCAC record holder, Logan McGill in the 50 free."

"This year Vanessa moved to the endurance group and led those swimmers to many of their best performances to date - with three individual invites to the NCAA meet [Melissa Paione, Sara Daher, Hope Logan]. Her ability to not only train athletes, but keep them happy and motivated has played a huge role in her athletes' successes."