Former Kentucky swimming great Shaun Zitani has joined the Kentucky swimming and diving staff as an assistant coach, UK Coach Gary Conelly announced Monday.
A five-time All-American from 1997-2001, Zitani returns to his alma mater after serving three seasons as an assistant swim coach at Indian River Community College in Ft. Pierce, Fla. Zitani helped continue the tradition of excellence for the 31-time national-champion Pioneers, leading Indian River to three national titles while coaching the sprint swimmers to seven national-record finishes. At Indian River, Zitani coached Tim Patrick, who broke Zitani?s 50-yard freestyle record this past season at Kentucky. Zitani coordinated all dry-land and weight-room programs for the Pioneers and served as the head age-group coach for the River Rats swim team.
?Shaun is the perfect fit for us,? Conelly said. ?He knows our system from the inside out. I expect him to pick up where Pete Knox left off, producing some of the fastest sprinters in the country. He will be an infusion of excitement and enthusiasm that will help us climb in the nation?s top-10 teams. Not only will he be a dynamic deck coach, but he is going to be an outstanding recruiting coach.?
Zitani brings a wealth of experience as a former student-athlete in addition to his coaching expertise. He placed 12th in the 50 freestyle at the 2000 NCAA Championships to earn an honorable-mention All-America selection and swam on the first Kentucky men?s relay teams to compete at the NCAA Championships in 2001. Zitani helped lead the Cats to 13th place in the 200-medley relay and the 800-freestyle relay, 14th place in the 200-freestyle relay and 15th place in the 400-freestyle relay to collect four more honorable-mention All-America honors.
?I am thrilled to get this opportunity because my heart has always been in Lexington,? Zitani said. ?There is no finer school or athletic department than the University of Kentucky.?
Zitani replaces former assistant coach Pete Knox, who left Kentucky to enter private business.
