Susan Davis has been head women’s coach since 1974 and head men’s coach since 1983.  After founding the women’s swimming program at Springfield College and enjoying her collegiate swimming career, she earned a Master of Science and founded the competitive swimming program at Smith College.  For the past 29 years, Sue has been co-director of the two largest and most respected privately run clinics in the U.S. for coaches and swimmers. While on sabbatical leave in 1993, 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2010, Sue had the opportunity to visit and study the swimming programs at Arizona, Michigan, Stanford, Berkeley, Univ. of Florida, Texas, USC, ASU, Auburn, Irvine Nova Aquatics and Tennessee, as well as the U.S. Olympic training site in Colorado Springs.  Her firsthand experience with the elite coaches and swimmers in the country enables her to provide a unique training and learning opportunity for Swarthmore’s student athletes.  From 2000 to 2004, Sue was a member of the NCAA Division III National Swimming and Diving Rules and Championship Committee.

In addition to her involvement with swimming, Sue continues to compete successfully in the equestrian sport of three-day eventing, having twice trained with the U.S. Olympic Team in the 1970s.

Only one year removed from a part-time coaching position at Swarthmore College, Andrew Beggs has returned to the Garnet to take over as the full-time associate coach of the men’s and women’s swimming teams. Andrew worked as the head swimming and diving coach at Sun Valley High School from 2008 through 2011. He currently serves as the head coach of the Brookhaven Swimming Club, and as a part-time coach for the nationally recognized Ridley Area YMCA swimming team. Andrew brings a unique, multi-faceted training background to Swarthmore, having competed as a Division I track and field athlete at Rutgers University (2004-06), where he was part of the 2005 Big East championship team. Andrew has studied extensively with many nationally recognized swimming programs and coaches, and is excited to offer his vast swimming knowledge to the bright student-athletes at Swarthmore College.

Andrew has a B.A. in mathematics from Eastern University. He enjoys training and competing in triathlons throughout the east coast.

An assistant coach since 1997, Charlie enjoys working with the multifaceted Swarthmore student athlete. He is also head coach of Suburban Swim Center, working with swimmers of all ages including such notables as Grace Cornelius, a 1986 U.S. National Champion, and Brendan Hansen, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist. Charlie was the recipient of the 1999 ASCA Middle Atlantic and 2000 Speedo Middle Atlantic Age Group Coach of the year awards.

A University of Iowa alumnus, Charlie earned a B.A. with concentrations in music and Russian. While swimming for the Hawkeyes, the three-time captain and Phi Beta Kappa member set college records in five individual events and competed in every event except the 50 freestyle. An accomplished composer, arranger and performance artist, Charlie has been a professional musician since 1981.

Leisha Shaffer, a graduate in the class of 1983, has been involved with the Swarthmore Swimming program for 29 years; first as a swimmer and later as a member of the coaching staff. Shaffer swam on the College’s team for four years, twice competing at Division III Nationals. She spent two years as the full-time assistant coach before embarking on a career in the newspaper industry.  She served as interim head coach during the 1993 season.   The 2012-13 season will be her 21st consecutive season as a part-time assistant.  Shaffer brings first-hand knowledge of the challenges Swarthmore students face in balancing academics,  athletics and other extracurricular activities and helps our swimmers achieve success in all areas.  She also does extensive research on the Conference, giving Swarthmore and its swimmers a competitive edge in dual meets and the Conference Championship.