BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Head Coach Laura Demaline has announced that All-American alumnus Tyler Thompson '18 has rejoined the program as an assistant coach.  Thompson will be the third alumni to serve as an assistant coach on Demaline's staff in 2020-21.

"I had the privilege of coaching Tyler for four years and got to see him develop into one of the fastest breaststrokers in Division III," stated Demaline. "Now he is back to help "coach up" our Yellow Jacket Swimmers & Divers, and I couldn't be more excited. It is our goal to grow this program and win a Conference Championship and adding Tyler to our staff was a big step in that direction! His career goals, his passion for the sport, and his pride in BW are a winning combination." 

Thompson, who is a swimming and strength and conditioning coach at Cleveland Swim and Sports Institute, returns to his alma mater after serving as the Head Swimming and Diving and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Medina Highland High School.  Prior to Highland, he was a swimming coach at Swim United, a swimming coach, swimming instructor and lifeguard at Peak Performance, a swimming coach with the North Olmsted Recreation Department and an assistant swimming and diving coach at Strongsville High School.

While at BW, Thompson earned a Bachelor of Education in young adult education and a Bachelor of Science in biology. He was a four-year letterwinner in swimming and diving. Thompson was a three-time Ohio Athletic Conference Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke, two-time NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships national qualifier, OAC Champion in the 200-yard breaststroke and an All-American in the 100-yard breaststroke. He became just the third male swimmer in OAC history to win three straight 100-yard breaststroke titles and the first male swimming All-American in BW history with a ninth place finish at the 2016 NCAA Division III Championships. Thompson still holds the school-record in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 fall portion of the Yellow Jacket swimming and diving season was postponed. The BW swimming and diving teams are slated to begin competition in January 2021. A complete schedule of events will be released at a later date.