UCI fires Swail

Julie Swail, who coached the UC Irvine women’s water polo team to a

39-74 record in the program’s first three years of existence, has

been fired, the school announced Wednesday.

A nationwide search will begin immediately for Swail’s

replacement, who will take over a program that finished 20-21 last

season and was ranked No. 14 in the final national poll. The

Anteaters finished 10th in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

“We are grateful to Julie for her efforts and contributions in

helping establish a new program at UCI,” UCI Senior Associate

Athletic Director Petrina Long said, “but we have determined that we

will benefit from a change in philosophy and direction at this time.”

Swail is a world-class triathlete attempting to qualify for the

2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She was captain of the women’s

national water polo team that won the silver medal at the 2000

Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Swail did not immediately return a phone message left at her home

Wednesday.