A Valparaiso University alumna is returning to Union Street, as Valpo director of athletics Mark LaBarbera announced today that Maggie Kroemer ’05 has been selected to be the head coach of the Valpo men’s and women’s swimming program.

“I'm very grateful for the opportunity to return to Valpo as the head swim coach,” said Kroemer. “It's been my dream to be a head coach at the Division I level, and it is truly special to be able to that at my alma mater. My experiences coaching at other mid-major programs have prepared me to lead Valpo's team. I'd like to thank Mark LaBarbera, Sarah Pruess and the rest of the search committee for entrusting me with this program.”

Most recently, Kroemer spent the 2018-2019 campaign as an assistant coach at Seattle University. With the Redhawks, Kroemer ran the distance group and guided that group of swimmers to 11 new entries in the program’s all-time top-10 charts in her lone season.

Prior to moving to Seattle, Kroemer served as an assistant coach for six seasons (2012-2018) at Saint Louis University. Kroemer led the distance, mid-distance and IM practices for the Billikens, as well as serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. During her time at SLU, Kroemer helped coach the team’s swimmers to nine individual and four relay A-10 conference champion swims. Eight Billiken swimmers combined for 24 NCAA ‘B’ cuts in her six seasons while over her tenure, and SLU swimmers combined to set over 100 school records.

“To have a member of the Valpo Athletics family return to lead one of our programs is very exciting,” said LaBarbera. “Coach Kroemer was an outstanding student-athlete during her time at Valpo with a passion for swimming that led her into coaching. Her collegiate coaching experience, especially in the Atlantic 10, combined with her understanding of Valpo makes her an ideal person to lead our swim program.”

Kroemer started her collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Texas-Permian Basin, where she spent two seasons (2007-2009). She also has a wealth of experience coaching at the club and youth levels as well.

Kroemer was a four-year letterwinner for the Valpo women’s swim team, competing from 2001 through 2005. An Academic All-Mid-Continent Conference honoree, Kroemer earned seven top-10 finishes over the course of her career at the Mid-Con Championships, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in the 1650 freestyle as a senior. In her final career swim, Kroemer posted a time of 18:13.22 in the mile – a time which still ranks ninth in program history.

“My goals for Valpo's program as we move into this coming season are to create a positive team atmosphere, see improvements in both individual and team results and break multiple school records,” said Kroemer.

Kroemer graduated from Valparaiso University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2005 and earned her master’s degree in kinesiology with an exercise physiology emphasis from the University of Texas-Permian Basin in 2009.