HOUSTON Four-time Division II Women's Swim Coach of the Year Seth Huston has been named head coach of the Rice program, replacing former coach Doug Boyd, who resigned following the 2001-02 season, athletics director Bobby May announced Thursday.
Huston spent the last nine years at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., and served as the head coach of both the men's and women's teams. The women have won back-to-back Division II national championships, while the men tied their best-ever result with a ninth-place finish in 2002. Huston has been named the Coach of the Year for three consecutive years and four times in the last five years. He has also coached the women's swimmer of the year for the past two years.
"I feel really good about the type of student-athlete that goes to Rice," Huston said. "It's the kind of individual I really enjoy working with. I think we've got a great core to build around, with so much potential. I'm excited about the upcoming season and seasons beyond."
Huston, 37, is a native of St. Louis. He graduated from Lindbergh High School and earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Tampa in 1988 and a master's in exercise science from TCU in 1990. Before landing the head coaching job at Truman State, Huston served as an assistant coach with TCU and Tampa.
He and wife Amy are the parents of three children, Hobie, 8; Hanna, 6; and Eli, 2 1/2.
The 2002-03 team will be led by senior Mandy Mularz, who finished second in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2002 NCAA Championships and won both the 50 and 100 free at the WAC Championships. Mularz will be the team's lone senior.