Monmouth Hires Three New Coaches
Monmouth College’s coaching staff is now complete after the Fighting Scots announced the hiring of Kim Wegner (head women’s tennis), Alex de la Pena (head men’s and women’s swimming) and Steve Schweer (assistant men’s basketball).
Wegner, a May graduate of Monmouth, was a four-year letter-winner for the Scots. She holds the school record for doubles wins in a season and is No. 2 all-time. Wegner is also second in combined singles and doubles wins in a season and is third on the career list. She becomes the 14th coach in the history of the program, which began in 1919.
“We’re happy to be able to add Kim to our ranks after a successful career as a student-athlete at Monmouth,” said director of athletics Roger Haynes. “She knows Monmouth very well and understands what is required to be successful both on the tennis courts and in the classroom.”
de la Pena will be the fourth head swimming and diving coach at Monmouth since the program was reinstated in 2004. A 2007 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College, de la Pena has held assistant coaching positions at St. Lawrence University and Oberlin College. While at Oberlin, the Yeomen set 11 school records and sent one swimmer to the NCAA national championships. de la Pena earned his master’s degree from St. Lawrence.
“Alex was very impressive during the interview process,” said Haynes. “His communication skills will serve him well working with team members or with prospective student-athletes and their parents during the recruiting process.”
Schweer joins Todd Skrivseth’s men’s basketball staff for the 2011-12 season. The 2006 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University played on two NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen teams and played in one Final Four. He served as an assistant at Lakeland College and most recently was a graduate assistant at North Park University, where he earned his master’s. He will work with the post players and assist Skrivseth with recruiting and monitoring the team’s academic progress.
“Steve has competed on the national level,” said Skrivseth. “He’ll bring that same type of intensity and dedication to coaching. He will be a valuable asset to the program as we try to reclaim the Scots’ long tradition of excellence in the Midwest Conference.”
Monmouth sponsors 20 varsity sports for men and women. The Scots’ women’s golf team will open this academic year’s intercollegiate competition on Aug. 28. All other fall sports will begin play in September.
