thumbnail  Coaching Staff

Dawn Gerken

Head Coach, MIT Swim Team
Dawn's Picture Dawn Gerken will begin her second season as MIT's head men's and women's swimming and diving coach. Gerken's first season at MIT was filled with both individual and team highlights.

Gerken guided both the men and women's programs to runner-up finishes at the 2004 NEWMAC Championships. After establishing 9 meet records, MIT swimmers Kathryn Duffy and Craig Edwards received NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year accolades.

During the 2003-2004 season, team members established 17 new Institute records and fourteen swimmers made NCAA "A" and "B" qualifying standards. Five swimmers competed at the NCAA Division III Championships where the women placed 45th and the men finished 25th. At nationals, Craig Edwards earned All-American honors with his 4th place finishes in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. The women's 800 freestyle relay (DeBoer, Hilb, Thornton, Duffy) and Duffy's 50 and 100 freestyle performances also earned Honorable Mention All-American status.

Gerken coached at Vassar College from 2001-2003, one season as an assistant coach and one season as the interim head coach. Under Gerken's tutelage in 2002-2003, the Brewers broke 23 school records. The women's team ended the season with a 7th place finish at the NY State Championships, their highest finish in over a decade. The men's 4th place showing at the UCAA Championship was also the highest finish in the history of the program.

Prior to Vassar, Gerken served as a graduate assistant coach for the Smith College swimming and diving program from 1999-2001. Gerken was also an assistant coach for the University of Massachusetts women's water polo team in 1998-1999. In 1999, the team won the Eastern Championship and finished 10th at the national tournament.

Gerken received a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1996. A 7 time All-American in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, she was named the New England Swimmer of the Year in 1996. Gerken was a 7 time New England champion in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke and an 8 time Seven Sisters champion. Gerken was also honored as both an Academic All-American and ECAC Scholar Athlete in 1994-1995. She currently holds the Smith College records in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke.

Gerken earned an M.S. in Exercise and Sport Studies from Smith College in 2001. She is an active member of the American Swimming Coaches Association and the College Swimming Coaches Association.

Abe Rogers

Assistant Coach, MIT Swim Team
Abe's Picture Abe comes to MIT after years of experience coaching on many levels, USS, YMCA, Masters and High School. For the last six years, Abe has been training and competing in triathalons, including the Olympic trials and World Cup Circuit. Abe recieved his Bachelors in Business from Colby College in 1995, where he competed for the Swimming and Track teams.

Brad Snodgrass

Diving Coach, MIT Swim Team
Brad's Picture Diving Coach Brad Snodgrass has been coaching divers for the past twenty years and brings a wealth of diving knowledge to the Engineers. During his 17 years at MIT, Brad's teams have had numerous conference finalists and NCAA national qualifiers. Brad also extends his diving knowledge to the programs at Tufts and Northeastern Universities, where he has coached many conference champions and NCAA All-Americans. Brad has also been active in United States Diving, recently serving as regional technical director, registrar and treasurer for New England.

Before moving on to earn a Biology degree at Tufts, Snodgrass attended Columbia where he dove under U.S. National Team coach Jim Stillson. He swam and dove for Concord-Carlisle High School under the tutelage of former Harvard and Olympic coach John Walker. Snodgrass was 1980 AAU and New England High School diving champion.

Brad lives in Watertown with his wife, Alexandra, and their 11-year-old daughter, Melia.