ASU hires championship caliber coach for swimming program

May 18, 2009

Dorsey Tierney-Walker has been named the head coach of the Arizona State University swimming and diving program, Senior Associate Athletic Director Dawn Rogers announced today, May 19. Tierney-Walker will be only the second head coach in ASU's history to direct both the men and women's swimming teams while becoming the Sun Devil men's program fifth head coach in history and sixth in the women's program.<separator></separator>"It gives me great pleasure to announce the hiring of Dorsey Tierney-Walker as our new Head Coach for ASU Men's and Women's Swimming," said Rogers. "As we spoke to members of the swimming community across the country, Dorsey's name was in every conversation. Her experience as both an elite competitor and coaching at the national championship level was the perfect match for Arizona State. She is fiercely competitive and brings a passion and excitement to our program that embraces our philosophy; to graduate our student-athletes and compete for national championships. Her commitment and excitement to build the men's and women's teams into contenders at the highest level spoke to our teams and our alumni, who have been great supporters of ASU Swimming. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Sun Devil Family."<separator></separator>"First of all I want to thank Dawn Rogers and Lisa Love. I was incredibly impressed by the entire department's professionalism and by their strong commitment and vision, not only for the elevation of the men and women's swimming and diving program, but also of the entire athletic department," said Tierney-Walker. "I am absolutely honored and thrilled to be a part of it."<separator></separator>Tierney-Walker has recently served as the co-women's head coach of the successful Auburn program. In her four years at Auburn, the Tigers have won two NCAA Championships and two SEC Conference titles. With Tierney-Walker on deck, the Tigers have garnered 196 All-American honors and have finished no lower than sixth.<separator></separator>Prior to her time at Auburn, Tierney-Walker served as the women's head coach at Indiana University for seven years. She was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and led the Hoosier swimmers to 99 All-American honors. With Tierney-Walker at the helm, the Hoosiers finished an Indiana history-best ninth place at the NCAA Championships in 2005. In her last four years at Indiana, Tierney-Walker's swimmers broke every school swimming record.<separator></separator>Tierney-Walker was an assistant coached at national powerhouse Southern Methodist 1996-98. During her three-year stint at SMU, Tierney-Walker helped lead the Mustangs to three top-four finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a runner-up finish in 1996.<separator></separator>Tierney-Walker has also found success in the international field. She served as an assistant coach for the United States at the World University Games in 2001 and coached Susan Woessner to a silver medal in the 100m backstroke, bronze medal in the 50m backstroke and silver medal as a member of the 400m medley relay. Tierney-Walker also assisted Cyndi Gallagher at the 2007 World University Games where the team picked up 10 medals at the Pan-Am Games.<separator></separator>Tierney-Walker was a successful athlete herself. She has won four gold medals at the Pan-Am Games and was also an Olympic Trials finalist in 1988 and 1992. In collegiate action, Tierney-Walker swam for the University of Texas. She helped lead the Longhorns to two National Championship and collected 16 All-American honors in her collegiate career.<separator></separator>Tierney-Walker earned her B.A. in English with a minor in history from Texas in 1992. She served as an assistant coach at her alma mater for a year following graduation.<separator></separator>Tierney-Walker is married to Jeff Walker. Her brother, Jimmy Tierney, is the head coach of the women's swimming team at Northwestern.<separator></separator>