Hancock’s influence has been evident in her short time on The Plains. During the 2016-17 season, senior Ashley Neidigh became Auburn’s first SEC mile champion since 2008 and only the fifth all-time in the women’s program. Neidigh would also earn All-America honors in the mile at the NCAA Championships, establishing a program record in the 1,000 free in the process.
The 2016-17 season also saw Zoe Thatcher finish seventh in the mile and top-16 in both the 500 free (ninth) and 400 IM (15th) at SECs, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in all three events. On the men’s side, Alec Morris scored in the mile at the conference meet for the first time after working under her direction.
In total, Auburn’s women’s team improved 15 spots at the NCAA Championships, went from two All-American individuals to eight and saw the All-American honors rise from three to 13 from the 2016 to 2017 national championships.
Hancock again traveled the international competition circuit with Luis Martinez, coaching the Guatemalan at the 2017 World Championships where he set national records in both the 100- and 200-meter butterfly events.
In her first year on the Plains, Hancock had an immediate impact on the program. Eight current women’s team members advanced to the USA Swimming Olympic Trials, with Annie Lazor swimming in the finals of the 200 breaststroke. She also coached Martinez to an Olympic spot, accompanying him to Rio as part of the Guatemalan coaching designation.
Hancock joined the Auburn staff after serving as the head coach at Conejo Simi Swim Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., since 2010. During her tenure, she trained three U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers, seven U.S. National qualifiers and 13 U.S. Junior Nationals qualifiers.
During her time with the club, Hancock oversaw 11 assistants and three different training sites. Conejo Simi Swim Club also earned a Silver Medal designation from USA Swimming in 2015 while the club was recognized with Bronze Medal designation in 2014.
Before taking over as head coach at Conejo Simi, Hancock served as the head age group coach from 2008-10, training multiple Junior Olympic qualifiers.
A four-year letterwinner at Duke, Hancock graduated in 2004 with a degree in sociology. She was a team captain for the Blue Devils during the 2003-04 season, setting school records in the 100 fly and 200 medley relay.
The Pendleton, S.C., native served as an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator at Duke during the 2004-05 season. She obtained a master’s degree in sports psychology from Tennessee while training for the 2008 Olympic Trials.