After five seasons with both the men's and women's swimming programs, head coach Chris Gibeau announces his departure. Assistant coach
Ashley Gardner will take over in place of Gibeau in his coaching and aquatics duties at the college for the interim.
"For the last five years, Chris applied his Olympic level coaching experience to our swim athletes at Hood," said Director of Athletics
Dr. Susan Kolb. "He made our teams better, while building a culture of success in and out of the water. I'm sad to see Chris leave Hood, but I'm happy for his new opportunity."
Overall, under Gibeau the swimming programs had 85 all-time Top 10 times (26 women, 59 men) and nine total team records broken.
Gibeau accumulated 37 wins and nine All-MAC Commonwealth selections during his time at the helm for both squads.
Isiah Brittingham (Lewes, Del./Sussex Central) earned three selections while
Hazen Stowell (West Jordan, Utah/Riverton) earned six including a gold in 2024 for his performance in the 500-yard freestyle.
The 2023-24 season brought the highest finish at the MAC Championship since the 2016-17 season with a sixth place finish for the men's team.
The past two seasons tied the highest MAC Championship finishes on the women's side since the 2018-19 season with ninth place spots.
Additionally, on the aquatics side of his role he increased membership, added new rental groups, and provided new opportunities for the Frederick community to use our facility.
Gibeau will join the coaching staff at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club and will work with swimmers in two pillars of the NBCA; imagination to cultivate dreams that will lead to future success and challenge those athletes to meet those dreams.
Gardner who will be taking over for the interim did so back in 2019 and has been working on the staff and in the aquatics office since.
"Ashley is not unfamiliar with leading our swim programs at Hood," said Kolb. "She is a veteran coach who will build off the success from the last several years, while also working hard to recruit new athletes for both the men's and women's programs."
