The University of Mary Washington has announced that Abby Brethauer has been named as the new men's and women's swimming coach at the institution, according to Director of Athletics Dr. Ed Hegmann.

"The success Abby had as an intercollegiate swimmer certainly prepared her in knowing what it takes to succeed in Division III", said Hegmann. "We're excited about her coming to us to raise the program to even greater heights."

Brethauer, who has been serving as an assistant coach at Columbia University since 2004, brings a wealth of competition and coaching experience to the position. In the past five years at Columbia, she worked extensively with sprinters, with that group achieving great success. She also played a key hand in recruiting and administration of the program in and out of the water. She began her college coaching career for one season as an assistant at Hamilton College. Brethauer has also coached extensively at swim camps at Bates College, Carthage College, and Hamilton College.

"I am so excited for the opportunity to join the athletic department at UMW," said Brethauer. "Everyone I met was so friendly and clearly committed to the pursuit of excellence in both athletics and academics. I am thankful to the coaches who have been with the program before me and I look forward to building on the success and helping the men and women become a regular name on the national level."

Prior to her coaching career, Brethauer was a 12-time All-American and three-time team national champion at Kenyon College. A team captain for the Ladies in 2002, Brethauer is a former NCAA Division III national record holder, and has been a USS competitor at the age group, senior, and national levels.

She received her bachelor of arts degree from Kenyon in 2002 in women's and gender studies, and then gained a master of arts degree from Columbia in Kinesiology.