Paul Yetter, who served as an assistant coach with the 2008 United States women[apos]s Olympic team in Beijing, China, has been named an assistant coach with the Auburn swimming and diving program, head coach Brett Hawke announced Friday.
[quote]Having Paul Yetter join the Auburn staff is fantastic for the team,[quote] said Hawke. [quote]He is a world-class, world-renowned coach. He has coached at the highest level, had world record holders and coached many national record holders at the club level.
[quote]This is an exciting time for Paul, an exciting challenge for him, but also we know that we are making the team we have here even stronger and we feel very fortunate to have him join us. We are excited for the future and what it holds.[quote]
Yetter comes to Auburn with more than 13 years of coaching experience from the developmental to international levels, including serving in various capacities at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) since 2001.
[quote]Paul is very strong in a lot of areas and I think he will bring a lot of new ideas to our staff,[quote] said Hawke. [quote]He will work with both men and women with a middle distance focus, but will be available to assist in almost any area of the program.[quote]
A coach with extensive international experience, Yetter not only served as an assistant coach with the U.S. National Team at the 2008 Olympics, but was also an assistant for the national team at the 2007 Japan International Grand Prix, 2006 Pan Pacific Games and 2005 World Championships. He also was the U.S. women[apos]s head coach at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
[quote]The tradition and history of excellence at Auburn really attracted me to this position, as well as the energy of the current staff and team,[quote] said Yetter. [quote]I could not be more excited to be a part of the Auburn staff and Auburn tradition. I cannot wait to get started and help Auburn[apos]s student-athletes move forward both in and out of the pool.[quote]
Yetter[apos]s athletes have represented the USA in International Competition every year since 2004, winning medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pac Pacific Games, World University Games, and the Pan American Games.
Most recently at NBAC, Yetter coached Liz Pelton to the 2009 USA World Championship Team where she finished 6th in the 200 backstroke. Pelton qualified for the US team in 3 individual events, more than any other female swimmer from the United States.
Prior to the 2009 season, Yetter coached Katie Hoff to Olympic Team berths in 2004 and 2008. During the 2007-08 season, Hoff set 11 American Records in nine different events, won three Olympic medals and twice set a long course World Record in the 400m IM.
Yetter has coached five NBAC athletes to the United States [quote]A[quote] National Team - Katie Hoff, Liz Pelton, Felicia Lee, Dan Madwed, and Courtney Kalisz.
Since 2002, Yetter[apos]s swimmers have set more than 75 national age group records in 12 of the 14 competitive events while ten different athletes have achieved more than 75 No. 1 national age group rankings. Yetter coached a group of 12 athletes to the 2009 World Championship Trials, and 13 athletes to the 2008 Olympic Trials.
For his efforts in coaching, Yetter was named the 2007 United States Olympic Committee Developmental Coach of the Year.
Yetter is a 1998 graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he earned a degree in English. While at Wisconsin, he swam from 1995-96 as a member of the Badger swimming and diving team and was a national qualifier in the 400 individual medley and 200 breaststroke.