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Pat Mead CAA Championship 2-24-11

Women's Swimming and Diving

Pat Mead's Contract Extended Through 2015-16

TOWSON, Md. – Towson University has extended the contract of Head Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Coach Pat Mead through the 2015-16 season, Director of Athletics Mike Waddell announced on Thursday. 

“Pat Mead exemplifies everything you want in a head coach,” Waddell said. “He is committed to excellence in and out of the pool and has a vision for both of our programs to reach championship achievement. I am excited to have both he and [Towson Diving Coach] Maureen [Mead] and their family with us at Towson for many years to come and look forward to watching our swimmers and divers flourish under their combined leadership.”

A five-time selection as the Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year, Mead has guided the Tigers women's program to 12 winning seasons and a 121-38 dual meet record, including four straight Colonial Athletic Association titles and a school-record 14 wins this season. Meanwhile, the TU men have compiled a 67-84 mark under Mead's tutelage with eight winning seasons in the last 13 years.

“Times are changing at Towson University and only for the better,” Mead said. “Mike Waddell's vision for our department of athletics is a great one. The University's commitment to the student-athletes has always been remarkable and it continues to only improve. In addition, the collaboration between Campus Recreation Services and the Department of Athletics has resulted in a partnership for Maureen and me through 2016 and we are both excited to serve the University in this capacity.

“Maureen and I have enjoyed the past 13 seasons and we both are so invested in the University and local community that we couldn't see ourselves any place else,” Mead added. “Our own four children truly bleed Black and Gold. With these commitments from the University, we can put rest any doubts about Maureen or me leaving the University. Simply put, Towson's grass is far greener.”

Not only have the Tigers been successful in the pool during Mead's tenure, but they have also made successful progress out of the water. Both the men's and women's teams have excelled in the classroom during Mead's tenure as the coach. He has had two former swimmers honored as recipients of Towson University's Doc Minnegan Scholarship Award while Tiger swimmers and divers are consistently recognized as members of the CAA Commissioner's List on an annual basis. The Tigers have also been honored as a Scholar All-America team by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America during the last several years.

Along with the strong academic success, the Tiger women's team has become one of the top mid-major programs in the country. During that time, the team has produced some of the biggest results in Mead's tenure at Towson as the women's team has won the last four CAA championships in strong fashion. The team has won 51 of 55 dual meets over the last four years, including three straight years of 13 or more wins.

In addition, senior Meredith Budner developed into one of the top swimmers in the nation. A two-time selection as the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Swimmer of the Year, Budner earned All-America honors five times after qualifying for the NCAA Championship in each of the last three years. After earning honorable mention All-America honors as a sophomore, Budner received All-America notice last year after finishing sixth in the 1650-yard freestyle and eighth in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Meet.

As a senior, Budner led the Tigers to a 21st-place finish at the NCAA Championship by earning second place in the 500-yard freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle events. She finished her career as the school record holder in six individual events and two relay events while winning 12 individual CAA titles and six relay championships.

Under Mead's guidance, the Tiger women's squad has been quite successful as members of the CAA. In addition to their four CAA championships, the Tigers finished second in the 2005 CAA meet and also had a third place showing at the 2006 meet. The Tiger men's team has also shown success since joining the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2001-02 season, recording a fourth place showing and three fifth-place finishes.

“Our goal over the next five years is a simple one - recruit the best student-athletes in the country and coach them to their fullest potential in the classroom and in the pool. A final factor in our decision was our swimming & diving alumni. We have some of the best alumni support in the country.  We will continue to rely on them to help our student athletes become the best in the CAA and the nation.”

A 1992 graduate of the University of Delaware, Coach Mead came to Towson in 1998 to replace Hall of Fame Coach Ray Riordon. Mead is just the second men's coach in the 32-year history of the program. He is also the seventh coach in Tiger women's swimming history.

Along with his coaching duties at Towson, Mead runs Tigerfish Aquatics, a USS team, with his wife, Maureen Mead, who is the Tigers' diving coach. Mead is the father of four young children - Mallory, Elliott, Lilly and Daphne.
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