Colgate Athletics began a new era with the announcement of Andy Waeger as the Mark S. Randall Head Swimming and Diving Coach in July 2014.
Waeger arrived in Hamilton from TCU, where he was assistant coach for the Horned Frogs for two years. He earlier served as women's head coach at Lock Haven and as men's and women's head coach at Slippery Rock on the Division II level.
"We are thrilled to have Andy, his wife, Kim, and his son, Aiden, as part of our Colgate athletics family," said Colgate Director of Athletics
Victoria M. Chun '91, MA'94. "Andy understands what it takes to lead student-athletes to excel at one of the best academic universities in the nation, while offering them a superb Division I athletic experience.”
The Raiders made great strides in Waeger’s first three seasons at the helm. The women’s team holds a 19-13 dual meet record during Waeger’s tenure. The men’s team has shown continued improvement, including a four dual meet wins in each of the last two seasons and a seventh-place finish at the 2017 Patriot League Championship meet.
Both squads were ranked among the most improved programs in the country during Waeger’s first season. The men’s squad were ranked 10th and the women tabbed 18th in the annual poll conducted by collegeswimming.com.
Waeger’s squads have also excelled in the classroom as the College Swimming Coaches Association of America recognized both teams as Scholar All-America programs.
During his time at TCU, Waeger assisted in all phases of the Horned Frogs men's and women's program. He was the men's team coordinator and overall recruiting coordinator, as well as the breaststroke and butterfly stroke group coach.
During his brief tenure in Fort Worth, Waeger helped TCU establish 30 school records and 151 top-five performances. They earned 73 All-Big 12 Conference honors, 87 NCAA "B" cut performances and eight Academic All-American honorable mentions.
Waeger also assisted in coaching TCU's first Big 12 Conference champion and 2014 NCAA qualifier.
National Success
In his seven years in charge at Lock Haven, Waeger led the program to new heights. The Lady Eagles recorded their highest ever team finish at the NCAA Championships when they took 16th place in 2010. He also worked as meet manager for the championships as LHU was the host institution.
Waeger recruited and coached Lock Haven's first PSAC league champion and guided six student-athletes to All-America honors and six who earned honorable mention All-America placements. Included were two All-Americans who recorded bronze-medal performances at the NCAA championship meet.
After never having qualified for the NCAA championships, Lock Haven in Waeger's final five seasons were a national point-scoring program. School records were broken 76 times and the Lady Eagles produced 15 All-Conference performances.
In addition, Waeger coached five Academic All-Americans and three more who received honorable mention, in addition to multiple team Academic All-America semesters.
He served one year on the NCAA Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Committee before joining TCU.
Prior to Lock Haven, Waeger was at Slippery Rock University for three seasons. After serving as a graduate assistant for one year, he was elevated to head coach of both the men's and women's programs for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. In two years at The Rock, the team broke eight school records, produced a conference champion and two All-PSAC performances.
A native of Dublin, Ohio, Waeger started out his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater, Fairmont State College in West Virginia. He worked with distance, IM and breaststroke training groups at Fairmont State.
During his college career with the Fighting Falcons, Waeger was a four-year letterwinner. As a senior, he took the conference title in the 200 breast and 400 medley relay along with serving as a team captain. He graduated in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in education, and in 2004 earned his master's in sport management at Slippery Rock.
Waeger is married to the former Kim Fish of Wakefield, Rhode Island. The couple has a son, Aiden.
Get To Know 'Gate Athletics -- Andy Waeger
An Influential Person in My Career: Ed Denny. He was my collegiate coach turned conference rival for 10 years while we coached in the same conference. He is more than a mentor. He is a friend, confidant and one of the best persons I have had the privilege of knowing.
An Idea or Invention I Wish I Had Thought of: Bottled Water.
What I Like About My Job: Finding new ways to challenge our student-athletes … we can't do the same thing day in and day out.
What I Like About Competing: I love watching our men and women get up and race.
What I Would Like to Change: My handwriting.
What I Like That Would Surprise Those Who Know Me: Sleeping in.
What I Like About Myself: I have a short memory (it should be noted that not everyone likes this about me).
Miscellaneous Favorites
Heroes: My wife Kim … she is the strongest, most supportive person in my life and I would lost without her. My son, Aiden, who is the light of my life. I am also blessed to have two amazing parents and three siblings.
Possession: My wedding ring.
Memento: All of the "stuff" my son, Aiden, has made for me to decorate my office with.
Magazines, Hardcopy or Online: Sports Illustrated.
Gadget: iPhone.
App: Netflix
Music Type, Singer or Group: I am a Talk Radio/Podcast type of guy.
Books: Anything by Bill Bryson or John Grisham.
Food: Tex-Mex … Doesn't get any better!
Movies: Anything the Coen Brothers have made.
Quote: "It'll be fun"
