Swimming and Diving Completes Staff for 2008-09 Season

Aug. 14, 2008

Head Swimming and Diving Coach Christopher Ip announced the hiring of Mallory Pucci on Thursday. Pucci graduated from George Mason University on August 9 and is making the quick transition to the swimming and diving staff for 2008-09.

Ip said, “We are extremely pleased to have Mallory join our coaching staff. She brings a new dimension to our Swimming and Diving program as we move toward our goals both academically and athletically. A tremendous student-athlete herself, Mallory’s expertise will strengthen our educational approach to coaching by using the latest technologies to give the most technical feedback possible to succeed.”

Coach Pucci added, “I am very excited to be a part of the Clemson Swimming and Diving staff. I look forward to contributing to the well-rounded program that Coach Ip and his staff have built. I look forward to helping the student-athletes achieve their goals academically and athletically as we advance in the ACC and NCAA.”

A Raleigh, NC native, Pucci has put together a well-rounded resume in a short time, and while this will be her first full-time coaching job, the responsibilities will be far from entry-level. Pucci adds a national dimension to the staff. Her most recent internship was with Club Wolverine, a nationally renowned swim club, known best for turning out Michael Phelps.

Pucci spent the summer of 2007 working at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado as an intern with the sport science training and performance program in the USA Swimming National Team Division. She was responsible for assisting USA Swimming with the implementation and logistical support of technical programs designed to support National Team athletes and coaches as they prepared for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

In addition to her internships, Pucci was a member of the George Mason Swimming team for four years in freestyle and butterfly events. She will work with the mid-distance and sprint units at Clemson.

Pucci unites with former club coach Ron Turner on the staff as new additions for the 2008-09 season, joining Ip, Lance Asti, and Leslie Hasselbach