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Rick Simpson is entering his eighth season as the head coach of the Villanova men's and women's swimming and diving programs. During the 2006-07 season, he was able to guide the men's team to two dual meet wins, with victories over Widener and Georgetown. And for the fourth year in a row, Jenny Somerville was crowned BIG EAST champion in the 1650 free. She also qualified for the NCAA Championships with her time, where she would go on to finish 22nd, her best finish in three attempts. Simpson also coached senior Kristina Lennox to a BIG EAST title in the 200 fly. A year ago, in 2005-06, junior Jenny Somerville won the 1650 free at the BIG EAST Championships for the third consecutive year and advanced on to the NCAA Championships in both the 1650 free and the 500 free. Under the guidance of Simpson, Somerville would finish 23rd in the 1650 free. At the BIG EAST Championships, Simpson led the women's team to a fifth place finish while the men finished in tenth position. In 2004-05, Simpson led the Wildcat women to a fourth place finish at the Big East Championships for the second consecutive year. It also marked the highest point total since 2001 with 423. The men finished 11th at the ECAC Championships. At the Big East meet, sophomore Jenny Somerville won the conference title in the 1,650 free for the second year in a row and six different swimmers finished in the top six in 13 events as well as five relays making the All-Big East squad. Simpson has had at least one swimmer earn a NCAA Championship berth every year of his Villanova tenure. Junior Jenny Somerville joined Olympian Maddy Crippen and 2003 Outstanding Female Swimmer Becky Koch on this list in 2004-05 competing in the 500 and 1,600 free at the championships. Somerville finished 29th in the 1,650 respectively. The Philadelphia native has coached two women to All-American honors with Crippen receiving the honor eight times and Koch twice. Crippen competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games before coming back for her sophomore year, Simpson's first. Under his watchful eye, she went on to receive three more All-American awards in the 400 IM and the same recognition in the 500 free and 200 breast in 2001. Koch also used Simpson's guidance to be named All-American in the 500 free in 2003 and the 400 free in 2004. Simpson coached the Wildcat men to a 10th place finish at the Big East Championships in 2003 and 11th in 2004. In 2005, he led the team to a 11th place finish at the ECAC Championships. Simpson came to the Main Line from Seton Hall University, where he headed up the Pirate men's and women's programs for three seasons. He led the Pirates to a 5-5 record during the 1999-2000 season, the first time they achieved a .500 record in the history of the program. At the 2000 Big East Championships, Simpson helped guide Seton Hall sophomore Peter Economou to a Big East title in the 100 fly. Economou was the first Pirate in seven years to a win a conference championship. The Pirate women's program had their best season under Simpson in 1998-99, when they recorded a record of 8-6. During his three-year tenure from 1997-2000, 75 percent of the school's swimming and diving records were broken. Simpson attended Rutgers University, graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental and land use planning. Following his graduation from Rutgers, he spent three season with the Scarlet Knight swimming and diving program as a graduate assistant. In 1992, during his stint at Rutgers, Simpson was also an assistant to the U.S. Olympic Team Coach at Team Foxcatcher. While with Team Foxcatcher, he assisted in the training of four Olympians. In addition, he coached the Foxcatcher Team at the 1992 National Championships in Mission Viejo, Calif. Simpson left his alma mater in the fall of 1992 to become an assistant coach of the United States Military Academy at West Point. His primary responsibilities at West Point included serving as the recruiting coordinator as well as coach for all sprint and middle distance swimming events. After one season, he returned to Rutgers as a full-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In August 1996, Simpson was named the interim head coach at Rutgers. Simpson left Rutgers in 1997 to head up the Seton Hall men's and women's swimming and diving programs. While at Seton Hall, he served as the founder and executive director of Varsity Swim Camp, Inc., and as founder and head coach of the Seton Hall Aquatics Club. During the summer of 1999, Simpson was named to the coaching staff of Team U.S.A. at the Second Military World Games in Zagreb, Croatia. The team consisted of several current and former world record holders and Olympians. Simpson is a native of the Philadelphia area and currently resides in Malvern, Pa. SIMPSON'S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS • Named head coach of the Villanova University swimming & diving program on July 12, 2000. • Headed up the Seton Hall University men's and women's swimming and diving programs from 1997-2000. • Member of the Team USA coaching staff at the Second Military World Games in Zagreb, Croatia, in 1999. • During his time at Seton Hall, Simpson founded and served as head coach of the Seton Hall Aquatics Club, as well as creating the Seton Hall Varsity Swim Camp, Inc. • Interim head coach of the Rutgers program in 1996-97. • Full-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Rutgers from 1993-96. • Spent one season at the United States Military Academy at West Point as an assistant coach (1992). • Assistant to U.S. Olympic Team Coach at Team Foxcatcher in 1992. • Graduate assistant at Rutgers University from 1990-1992. • Graduated from Rutgers in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in environmental and land use planning.
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