The squads will train and host college-level meets at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville
Piedmont College today announced it’s launching a new men’s and women’s swimming program and the college has hired Coach Teddy Guyer (pictured) to lead the teams.
Piedmont’s varsity swim teams are expected to begin competing in the 2020-21 season, according to a news release from the college.
Team recruitment
With the addition of swimming, Piedmont College now has 21 athletic teams on its sports roster. Athletic director Jim Peeples says he’s excited to have Guyer, a 25-year coaching veteran, on board. Guyer says he, too, is excited about and grateful for the opportunity. “My goal is to produce a winning team right away with dedicated student-athletes. I am looking forward to this new challenge in my coaching career,” he says.
With swimming being very popular in North Georgia and Atlanta, Guyer plans to spend much of his time recruiting in-state talent. But he’s looking beyond Georgia, too.
“Swimming is a worldwide sport, and everyone wants to come to the United States to swim so I will also be trying to work the international side,” says Guyer. “I would like to see the team have more than 30 swimmers within two years and eventually around 40 after that.”
College/County agreement
The squads will train and host meets at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville.
“Swimming has tremendous potential, and we are particularly pleased to partner with the aquatic center in this exciting new venture,” says Piedmont College President Dr. James Mellichamp. “This new program is an example of Piedmont’s continued growth and rising profile.”
The 14,500 square-foot aquatic center, maintained by the Habersham County Parks and Recreation Department, includes stadium seating for 250, locker rooms, a 25-meter competition pool, and a heated recreation pool.
“Habersham County is delighted to be working with Piedmont College to host the swim teams,” says Habersham County Manager Phil Sutton. “It is exciting for us to be able to use the county’s athletic facilities to host college-level swim practices and meets.”
The program is expected to generate revenue for Habersham County based on the terms of a contract between the county and college.
Under the terms of that agreement, Piedmont College will pay $25 per month, per swimmer for use of aquatic center pool. Ultimately the program is expected to average 40 swimmers which would generate $12,000 per year for swimmer dues.
In addition, Piedmont College will pay 25% of gross revenue collected for any swim meets hosted at the aquatic center. If they host four meets per year the revenue generated is estimated at $5,000.
And finally, 25% of all sponsorships sold at the Aquatic Center, on behalf of Piedmont College, will be paid to Habersham County.
Currently, four teams use the aquatic center lap pool for training. Sutton says when Tallulah Falls School opens its new pool, Piedmont will replace them in the aquatic center’s practice schedule.
Coach Guyer stats
Coach Guyer launched the swimming program at Mars Hill University. He was head swimming coach there from 2005 to 2019. Before that, Guyer was the head coach at Warren Wilson College. In his career, he’s compiled a record of 354 wins to 73 losses. Guyer has coached 114 all-conference swimmers, had 19 swimmers make NCAA national cuts and coached an All-American. Along the way, he’s collected seven Coach of the Year Awards.
A native of North Carolina, Guyer graduated from Western Carolina University in 1991 with a bachelor of science in physical education. He also received a Certificate of Coaching Excellence by the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) in 2013.
Coach Guyer will begin his job at Piedmont on August 1.
