MEDFORD, MA– With the 2022-23 Winter Sports season about to begin, the Tufts University swimming and diving team has announced two new coaching adjustments within the staff.
In her second year with the Jumbos,
Norie Hammond is being promoted to associate head coach of the men's and women's swimming teams. Also, the team is bringing on new assistant coach Meghan Claflin as an addition to the coaching staff. She'll be coaching both the men's and women's Jumbos swim teams as well in a move that bolsters the Jumbos staff.
Hammond was hired last year as an assistant coach for the Jumbos, and has proven her ability to lead the team in an effective, constructive manner in her short stint with the program. She brings with her more than 15 years of coaching experience, ranging from club, high school, college, and more. Before being brought on to the Jumbos staff last season, Hammond had most recently been the Associate Head Coach for the YMCA of the North Shore swim team in Massachusetts. Prior to that position she was the Head Sprint Coach at Team Santa Monica (CA), Senior Program Director with Peddie Aquatics and the Peddie School (NJ), and Assistant Coach and Stroke specialist at Trinity Prep (FL).
In addition to coaching, Hammond has participated in the USA Swimming Women's Leaderships Summit for the past five years and volunteered with the U.S. Special Olympics. She has a deep passion for the sport of swimming and in helping to develop athletes to reach their highest potential both in and out of the pool. She believes in coaching the whole athlete: mind and body and has studied mental training and youth leadership.
Claflin is being brought onto the Jumbos staff as assistant coach after seven years of coaching club swimming. Most recently, she was with the Boston YMCA Bluefins, based out of Reading, MA. Claflin has primarily coached high school level teams, winning multiple New England Championships, New England Seniors, and YMCA National qualifiers. Claflin also has some collegiate swimming experience of her own at the Division I level, having swam for Bryant University for a year, specializing in the freestyle event.
She grew up in Newburyport, MA and swam for the YMCA of the Northshore in Beverly. She was a five-year YMCA National qualifier, primarily in middle and distance freestyle events. She completed her bachelor's degree at Salem State University, obtaining a degree in Athletic Training, and is a certified athletic trainer along with her certification as a swim coach.
Claflin and Hammond will make their debuts in their new roles on Sunday, November 20, when the Jumbos men's and women's teams take on Brandeis University in Waltham.
--JUMBOS--
