Vassar College head swimming and diving coach Lisl Prater-Lee announced recently the hiring of Spencer Scarth as the new full-time assistant coach, while Miranda Fergus will serve as assistant coach for diving for the 2017-18 season.
Scarth steps into the role left vacant by four-year assistant coach Daniel Koenig, who accepted a position at Division I Iona College in New Rochelle, NY recently. Fergus will occupy a position that was held previously by Jack Ferriter, who left the program to pursue his Master’s at Smith College in Northampton, MA.
Scarth comes to Vassar College after earning his M.S. from the University of Louisville this past May, also serving as the head age group coach for RACE Aquatics from 2016-17. At RACE, he helped develop dryland programs and had numerous first-time state qualifiers. Scarth has also coaches at South Warren, Greenwood and Warren East High School as an assistant, and was the South Oldham High School head coach from 2014-16.
“I am excited to have Spencer Scarth join the Vassar Swim & Dive program,” said Prater-Lee. An accomplished NCAA Division III swimmer, Spencer has a good understanding of the academic-athletic balance and an appreciation for the liberal arts. We look forward to seeing what Spencer’s swim coaching background, strength and conditioning experience, and more add to the VCSD program.” Other previous work experience includes serving as head coach at JCC Louisville, while holding assistant pool director duties at Rolling Hills Country Club. As an undergraduate, Scarth was a two-time Division III All-American at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. A Redding, CT native, the 16-time Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Conference All-Conference swimmer was a team captain as a senior. Scarth is certified as a coaching member with USA Swimming, while holding a Level 2 ASCA certification. He is also licensed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as holding American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid and Lifeguard designations.
“I am very excited to be joining the Vassar community,” said Scarth. “Having spent the majority of my life in Connecticut, it will be great to return to an area of the country that I am very familiar with. Throughout the interview process, I was extremely impressed by the administration’s vision for student-athlete development.”
“I am looking forward to transitioning to college coaching and working with a head coach with plenty of experience and expertise,” said Scarth. “I’m eager to begin working with Lisl and our student-athletes, and I know that we will accomplish great things in the coming year.”
A local native of Millbrook, NY, Fergus was a four-year letter winner for the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland. After graduation in 2016 with a degree in studio art, Fergus remained with the team as the diving coach for the Red Dragons, training and mentoring both men’s and women’s programs.cAs an undergraduate, Fergus served as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, along with working summers as a lifeguard at SplashDowncBeach Water Park in Fishkill, NY. Fergus is currently in the process of earning her Master’s at SUNY New Paltz in New Paltz, NY. She was also an
NCAA Championships qualifier on the boards during her time at Cortland, and served as a team captain as well during her junior and senior seasons.
“We are excited to bring Miranda on board here at Vassar,” said Prater-Lee. “She has been highly successful as both a competitor and coach at the Division III level. That experience will benefit our diving teams as they progress this season. We know with her positive attitude, work ethic and background, our divers will be in good hands.”
Press Release courtesy of Vassar Athletics.