Date: May 15, 2003
Contact: Brian Laubscher (540) 463-8676
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L NAMES JOEL SHINOFIELD HEAD MEN'S SWIMMING COACH
Former General To Take Over Reins

LEXINGTON, Va. -- Washington and Lee athletic director Mike Walsh has announced the appointment of Joel Shinofield as head men's swimming coach and assistant professor of physical education. Shinofield will begin his duties effective August 1.

"Joel brings a unique blend of coaching experience and knowledge of Washington and Lee to our men's swimming program," said Walsh. "He was a stellar student while at W&L and has continued on in a very successful coaching career. We are fortunate to have him come back and lead our men's swimming program."

Shinofield returns to Washington and Lee after serving in a variety of positions. He has served as the executive director/head coach of the Richfield Swim Club since 1996 and was the head water polo coach at Macalester College. In addition, he has also held the post of volunteer assistant women's swimming and diving coach at the University of Minnesota.

"I'm really excited to take over the men's swimming program at W&L and build it into one that is competitive and compliments the academic standards," said Shinofield. "This is a great opportunity to come back and contribute to the school -- something that I didn't think I would be doing when I left almost 10 years ago. I would really like to rebuild the program into a Top 20 team both academically and athletically."

At the Richfield Swim Club, Shinofield was responsible for developing a competitive USA swimming team for youth from the novice to national level. He helped direct eleven swimmers to national-level competitions and increased club membership from 35 to over 150 members.

In one season at Macalester, Shinofield earned region coach of the year honors while leading the Scots' women's water polo team to a sixth place finish at the Collegiate III National Championships.

A volunteer assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Minnesota since 2000, Shinofield aided the Gophers' breaststrokers and butterflyers to the 2002 and 2003 NCAA Division I finals.

Active in the sport, Shinofield has also held coaching positions with Team Minnesota and Minneapolis Washburn High School. He is currently the President of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Swimming Coaches Association and is a member of the board for Minnesota Swimming, Inc.

A 1994 graduate of Washington and Lee with a bachelor of arts in biology, Shinofield lettered for the Generals' swimming team as a freshman before his career ended prematurely due to injury.

-- GENERALS --