The University of the Cumberlands (UC) swimming program is continuing its pursuit of an NAIA National Championship in 2011-2012. This year the program is being led by new Patriot Head Coach Eric Skelly who is looking to continue the Patriots winning ways. Coach Skelly has worked this offseason ensuring the Patriots' roster would be full of athletes pursuing the coveted NAIA National Championship. He also has built his coaching staff, adding Samantha Neff to the Patriot staff.

Neff was graduated from the University of Nevada in December of 2009 with a 3.7 GPA and a Bachelor's in Art with a minor in Journalism. She was also a member of the Dean's List every semester from the spring of 2006 to the fall of 2009. While attending the University of Nevada, Neff was a member of the Wolf Pack swim team for four years. There she was a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) All-Academic Team member. While at Nevada, Neff was a volunteer coach for the Tacoma Swim Club where she worked with 6-10 year olds. After graduating, she became an assistant coach for the Puget Sound Swim Club.

When asked about joining the UC Swim team coaching staff, Neff commented, "I'm not sure I can adequately express into words how excited I am for this opportunity to coach under Eric Skelly at the University of the Cumberlands. Skelly was an amazing coach when I swam for him at the University of Nevada, and I am so excited to work with him on a professional level as well. I know I have so much to learn from him, and from the Patriots' swim team. I hope my experience as a collegiate swimmer, and as a club swim coach will give me the perspective and balance my athletes need for a successful season."

Head Coach Eric Skelly added, "I'm extremely excited to add Samantha to the staff. Her experience as a swimmer and a coach is going to invaluable to the direction we are taking the program. She's going to help keep a great balance to the program and she's going to be a great recruiter. Her passion for the sport is incredible."

For more information on the UC Swimming program along with other Patriot athletics, please visit http://www.cumberlandspatriots.com/.