APPLETON, Wis. -- Jody Riskowski is the new leader of the Lawrence University swimming and diving programs, Director of Athletics Jason Imperati announced today.
    A native of Kearney, Nebraska, Riskowski is Lawrence's new head coach after working Pius X High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she has served as the head swimming and diving coach since 2022.
    "We are excited to announce the hiring of Jody Riskowski," Imperati said. "Jody's knowledge and experience with both swimming and diving was evident during our search. She understands the value sport can have on a student's educational experience. I am looking forward to watching her elevate our student-athletes both academic and athletically."
    Riskowski brings an impressive array of experience with both swimming and diving at the collegiate level to the job at Lawrence.
     "I was looking to work with a collegiate program that had a solid base and a program where you could continue to build upon what was already there," Riskowski said.  
    A standout swimmer at the University of Wyoming, Riskowski was a sprinter in both freestyle and backstroke. Riskowski's name is still all over Wyoming's top-10 list two decades after she graduated. A two-time team captain at Wyoming and the Mountain West Conference Swimmer of the Year in 2003, Riskowski earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with a pre-med/honors option. 
    Riskowski went on to earn her doctorate in biomedical engineering from Purdue University in 2008 with research areas that included biomechanics, assistive technologies in movement and STEM education. She also earned a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2020.
    Riskowski began her coaching work at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianpolis in 2003 as an assistant swim coach. She also worked as the performance enhancement team consultant for USA Diving from 2005-08. While working as a lecturer at Glasgow Calendonian University in Glasgow, Scotland, Riskowski served as the university's head swim coach from 2013-15. 
    After returning to the United States, Riskowski worked as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, an NCAA Division II member, in 2018-19. She then moved to the prep program at Pius X High School in 2021 and became the head coach the following year. 
    Riskowski said she is thrilled to get to work with the swimmers and excited about Lawrence's diving program as well given her ties to USA Diving.
    "I wanted to be with both swim and dive because it makes the whole program fun," Riskowski said. 
    "There's already a lot of talented swimmers and divers on campus. Now it's about helping them get to their next step and helping the incoming first-years assimilate into the team. We will work from there to recruit more people to help develop the program."
    Riskowski becomes just the fifth coach in the program's history since 1956. Lawrence Hall of Fame coaches Gene Davis (1956-91) and Kurt Kirner (1991-2007) led the programs to new heights during their tenures. Dan Lloyd coached the team for one season following Kirner's departure for Hillsdale College, and Drew Fleek coached the squads from 2008-24.