Notre Dame head Women’s Coach, Mike Litzinger, is laying the foundation for his new program with his first hire since taking the job. The University of Notre Dame announced today that April Woo will be joining their staff as the new Women’s Assistant Coach.
Notre Name was stuck in an unfortunate situation last year after head coach Brian Barnes had to resign last-minute for family reasons. The former head men’s coach, Tim Welsh, came out of retirement to fill in as the interim head coach for the season. Litzinger’s leadership should add consistency back into the Irish program after the sudden coaching changes last year.
“I’m thrilled to welcome April to South Bend. She brings experience, excitement and energy to the program,” says Litzinger. “Those three E’s are really what you’re looking for in a staff. April has seen a lot with her experiences at Stanford, Florida Gulf Coast University and Cleveland State. That wide range of varied experiences will be valuable to tap into. She will be an integral part in building this program to the level we all want it to reach.”
April Woo is a recipient of the Jean Freeman Award; an award given to a male and female assistant coach in each NCAA division whose contributions have brought recognition to the respective colleges or university, and whose honesty, leadership and integrity reflects the characteristics of Jean Freeman. She started coaching at Cleveland State and worked there while earning her masters degree. After Cleveland State, she spent three years at Florida Gulf Coast before taking a volunteer position with Stanford last year.
While she was at Stanford, the Cardinal finished third at the NCAA championships. The Stanford swimmers broke multiple American records and the staff helped secure the number one recruit in the country, Katie Ledecky.
Woo swam for the University of the Pacific from 2005-2009 and served as captain during her senior year.
Below is a press release from Notre Dame:
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – April Woo, a volunteer assistant coach at Stanford University for the 2014-15 season, has joined the University of Notre Dame swimming and diving program as an assistant coach under new head coach Mike Litzinger. This is Litzinger’s first hire after being announced as the program’s sixth head coach in the spring.
“I’m thrilled to welcome April to South Bend. She brings experience, excitement and energy to the program,” says Litzinger. “Those three E’s are really what you’re looking for in a staff. April has seen a lot with her experiences at Stanford, Florida Gulf Coast University and Cleveland State. That wide range of varied experiences will be valuable to tap into. She will be an integral part in building this program to the level we all want it to reach.”
Woo comes to the Irish from Stanford, where she served as the volunteer assistant coach last season. Woo helped coach on deck with the swimmers while assisting with all aspects of the swimming & diving program. During her year with Stanford, the Cardinal placed third overall at the 2015 NCAA Division I Championships, setting three American records in the 400 medley and free relays and the 100 free (Simone Manuel) in the process. Eight individuals earned All-America status while four others claimed honorable mention All-America citations. In addition, four relays claimed All-America accolades and one other secured honorable mention All-America honors.
“I am truly humbled and ecstatic to have the opportunity to join the Fighting Irish family,” said Woo. “I am really looking forward to working with coach Litzinger and bringing my passion and positive attitude to help lead the women’s swimming and diving program to unprecedented heights.”
Prior to coaching at Stanford, Woo was an assistant coach for Florida Gulf Coast University from 2012-14. There she assisted with the team’s recruiting classes, which included the 12th ranked recruiting class in 2013. She also designed weight training programs for the distance swimmers. In her last season at FGCU, the Eagles placed 32nd at the 2014 NCAA Division I Championships, which was the highest finish in program history. Three individual All-America citations highlighted the 2014 run. In her first year with the program (2012-13), the team claimed the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association team title.
Woo’s first stop out of college took her to Cleveland State, where she worked under the direction of legendary head coach Wally Morton while also completing a Masters of Education in exercise science in 2012. With the Vikings, Woo assisted in all aspects of the program including recruiting, training, weight plans and meets. Eleven individual school records fell under her watch in addition to nine relay marks.
During her time as a student-athlete at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California from 2005-09, Woo served as co-captain during her senior campaign (2008-09). She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2009.
In 2013, Woo was awarded the prestigious Jean Freeman Award. This award is given to a male and female assistant coach in each NCAA division whose contributions have brought recognition to the respective colleges or university, and whose honesty, leadership and integrity reflects the characteristics of Jean Freeman.
Outside of her assistant duties with various collegiate programs, Woo has assisted with several camps and clubs all over the country including the Neal Studd Swimming Camp, Ohio Masters, Swim Strongsville Club, Fast Lane Swimming Camp, LLC and the Pacific Swim School.
Swimming news courtesy of Notre Dame Swimming & Diving:
Congratulations to April!!