Jake Shrum was named the head coach of the Towson University men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs in April 2016.
Since elevating to the top spot for both squads, Shrum has helped lead the Towson programs back near the top of the league standings. In 2020-21, the women's program finished third at the CAA Championships for a sixth-straight season. The spring of 2021 saw the men's side capture its first-ever CAA Championship, dominating the field by over 200 points.
As Shrum was tapped as the CAA Men's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year, rookie sensation Brian Benzing was named both Most Outstanding Performer at the meet and was the CAA's Swimmer of the Year. During the CAA Championship meet, Benzing set the CAA record in the 100-yard breaststroke, touching in 52.57 seconds. Benzing went unbeaten in the event during collegiate meets as well.
“We are excited to announce Jake Shrum as the next head coach for Towson University swimming and diving,” said Brandenburg. “Jake’s experience as the acting head coach at Towson as well as his previous experience as a head coach and assistant coach, demonstrate his ability to lead a successful program. We are excited about the future of the swimming and diving programs under his direction.”
Shrum enters the 2020-21 season coming off numerous student-athletes winning accolades during the 2019-20 season.
Will Canny was named CAA Men's Diver of the Week six times. The CAA introduced the new rookie of the month awards and freshman swimmer
Michael Fazio and diver
Ajani Dorner each won the awards multiple times. Dorner captured rookie diver of the month three times, while Fazio also earned the newly accolades of rookie swimmer of the month twice. Fazio also broke freshman records in the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyle events.
The women had multiple sweeps in the weekly CAA awards and received accolades from the College Swimming Coaches Association (CSCAA).
Megan Cowan and
Christina Coleman both won weekly awards while freshman diver
Ashley Sinicropi garnered one of the newly introduced rookie monthly awards.
Nick McClure captured silver in the 200-yard butterfly at the CAA's while Essing broke a school record in the 50-yard freestyle.
Shrum coached Cowan to back-back championships in the 200 IM's.
Also in his tenure he coached Jack Saunderson to being named an All-American in 2018.
Shrum has served as acting head coach for both programs since the fall of 2015. Under his guidance, the men’s and women’s programs both finished in third-place at the 2016 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Swimming and Diving Championships. During the 2015-16 season, the Tigers set a combined 12 school records.
Jack Saunderson was named 2016 CAA Men’s Rookie Swimmer of the Year, becoming the first Tiger in program history to earn that award. During his freshman campaign, he set five school records, and a CAA Meet record, after winning the 200-yard butterfly at the conference meet. In addition, four members of the men’s swimming and diving team earned All-CAA accolades based on individual and/or relay performances at the CAA Championship.
Emily Wilson earned 2016 CAA Women’s Rookie Diver of the Year honors, becoming the first Tiger in program history to earn that award. Eleven members of the women’s swimming and diving program earned All-CAA accolades based on individual and/or relay performances at the CAA Championship. For the second-straight year, Jenna Van Camp qualified for the NCAA Championships, competing in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes.
Prior to being named acting head coach, Shrum served as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs. He joined the Tiger staff in May of 2015.
Shrum served as a volunteer assistant at the University of Virginia where he composed workouts, monitored training and provided stroke advice. Under his guidance, the women's team improved from an 11th-place finish in his first year to a fifth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Championships. They also captured two Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championships. The men's team saw nine student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships and finish 26th-overall.
Prior to joining the staff at Virginia, Shrum served as head coach at Albermarle High School, a highly competitive Virginia high school league AAA school, for six years. He was responsible for the overall development and organization of the program, as well as the formation of the school's diving team. He led the men's team to three regional and five district championships, as well as a top finish of eighth-place at the Virginia State Championships. The women's team won one regional and two district championships and had a top finish of sixth-place at the State Championships. In 2013, he was named Central Virginia High School Swimming Coach of the Year.
Shrum also served as an assistant coach for both the Virginia Gators club team and the Fairview Swim Club.
He is a U.S. Swimming certified coach which includes certifications in athlete protection, safety training and CPR.
Shrum earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from Virginia in 2008. During his time at Virginia, he was a member of the Cavaliers' swimming team. He was a four-time varsity letter winner and was a member of three ACC Championship teams.
