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Seven weeks ago, Fordham University faced a setback. Steve Potsklan resigned from his position as head swimming coach at the university based in New York. The coach, who has also served as an assistant coach at Yale and trained swimmers at West Virginia University, decided to join a new public college as the head coach.

Following this dismay, Fordham University was recently graced with a new coach. The staunch Fordham students, after months of no guidance, will be training under the 47-year-old swimmer who clinched an Olympic medal for the United States in 2000. Recently, a swimming account posted the update on social media.

Fordham to be graced by new guidance

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On October 18, Swimming World posted an update captioned “Olympic Medalist Tom Wilkens Named Head at Fordham” on X. Fordham University announced the Olympian as the interim swimming and diving head coach of the university. Wilkens, who had represented Stanford at the NCAA level and was added to Stanford’s athletic hall of fame, secured a bronze medal in the 200-meter medley (2:00.87) at the 2000 Olympics.

Furthermore, the New Jersey-based swimmer has won four medals at the World Championship and is a five-time Pan Pacs medalist. Following this excellent swimming career, Wilkens has kept his passion for sports alive by coaching the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County in New Jersey since 2016. And after recently accepting the new position at Fordham, the USA swimming-certified coach told the media, “I would like to thank Athletic Director Ed Kull and the Fordham administration for giving me the opportunity to coach this outstanding group of student-athletes.

This update comes after Steve Potsklan resigned from the head coach position in August. The coach joined SUNY Maritime after spending 31 years at Fordham University.

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Steve Potskan ends a longtime association

On August 22, Steve Potskan stepped down from the head coach position at Fordham University. The athlete had spent more than three decades at the university and was named Atlantic 10 women’s coach of the year twice during his time guiding the Fordham students. Lastly, in September, the coach was hired as the head swimming and diving coach and director at SUNY Maritime College. “I look forward to creating something special here, and I can’t wait to get started” stated the coach after accepting the new position at the New York-based college.

Also read: Kyle Chalmers’ Popstar Turned Swimmer Rival Drops Shocking Career Announcement 9 Months Before Paris Olympics

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In 31 years under the guidance of Postskan, many Fordham swimmers, including Brienne Ryan and Amelia Bullock, were able to secure top-notch achievements under their belts. Now, the swimming community is girded up for Wilkens to strike his magic and bring back the glory of Fordham in the sports community.

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