Jack Bauerle, who has led UGA’s women’s swimming and diving program to four national championships and served as the women’s head coach at the 2008 Olympics, is the 2011 recipient of the Bill Hartman Award.
He will receive the award on April 13.
Named for the late Bill Hartman, UGA’s long-time kicking coach and chairman of the Georgia Student Educational Fund, the Hartman Award is one of the highest honors given to former UGA student-athletes. It has been presented annually since 1992 and recognizes former student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and/or in service to others by 20 or more years of superior performance after graduation. Only former varsity athletes who have received a baccalaureate degree from UGA can be considered for the award.
Bauerle has been chosen as the women’s coach for the upcoming Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool, according to an announcement by USA Swimming.
The competition pitting the U.S. against the European All-Stars will take place Dec. 16-17 at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center.
Bauerle, a native of Glenside, Pa., began his career at UGA as a record-setting swimmer from 1971 to 1974. After serving as an assistant coach, he took over as the head coach for the women’s program in 1979 and then added the title of men’s coach in 1983.
Bauerle has guided the women’s team to four national championships and six runner-up finishes as well as eight Southeastern Conference titles. Bauerle has been chosen as the NCAA coach of the year five times and as the SEC coach of the year 15 times. He has produced 77 individual national champions, including five last season.
Bauerle will enter the 2011-12 season as the winningest women’s head coach in NCAA history (269 wins), the winningest head coach for both women and men in SEC history (457).
