Leonard Kraus Named Inaugural Women's Swimming Coach

10/8/2001

Huntington, W. Va.--Marshall University Director of Athletics Lance West announced today that Leonard Kraus, a former assistant at the University of Toledo, has been named Marshall's head coach of the new women's swimming
program. The program will begin competition in the fall of 2002.

"We are ecstatic to have a new women's head coach with the qualifications that Leonard brings to the table," said West. "We look forward to offering women's swimming within the athletic department and also building a program
from the bottom up that we will be proud of both athletically and academically."

Kraus spent three years at Toledo as an assistant where he organized workouts and assisted with recruiting. Before his arrival at Toledo, Kraus
was a prominent member of the Muncie, Ind., swimming community. He was an assistant at Ball State for three years before taking over the Cardinal Community Swim Club and Muncie Central High School teams.

"The first word that comes to mind is excited," said Kraus, when asked about his new postion with the Herd. "I'm thrilled not only because it's my first coaching position, but that it's here at Marshall. I look forward to putting my stamp on the program and building a tradition here that will make the community proud."

Kraus received his bachelor's degree in sports administration from Ball State, where he spent four years as a member of the Cardinal varsity
swimming team and three years on the water polo team.

Kraus is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association (Level 4) and the United States Swimming Coaches Association. He is married to Joy Gallagher,and together they have two children, Alena Irene, two, and Makayla, six weeks.