Head Women's Coach Sheila O'Connor

Sheila O'Connor completed her eighth year as the University of Chicago head men's and women's swimming coach in 2002-03.

During her previous eight seasons, O'Connor's teams have boasted four All-America performances and featured the 1997 University Athletic Association Women's Swimmer of the Year.

Before her appointment at Chicago, O'Connor spent four years as head swimming and volleyball coach at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. While at Colby, her 1992-93 and 1993-94 swimming squads were selected as All-Academic Teams by the College Swimming Coaches Association.

In addition to her coaching responsibilities at Colby, O'Connor served as an adjunct assistant professor and as pool director where she supervised the college pool and lifeguard staff.

Before her appointment at Colby, O'Connor served as head women's swimming coach and aquatics director at Grinnell College from 1988-91 and as a graduate assistant women's swimming coach and teaching assistant at Iowa State University, where she earned a master's degree in exercise physiology in 1988.

Her thesis at Iowa State, which was funded by the U.S. Olympic Committee, was entitled, "The Validity of Training Intensity Prescriptions Based on Blood Lactate Profiles." In 1986, she earned a bachelor's degree in nutrition/physical education form the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn.

In addition to her coaching duties, O'Connor serves as an assistant professor in the department of physical education and athletics. She resides in Hyde Park with her husband, John, the Chicago men's soccer coach, and their daughter, Megan.

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