Coaches

Head Swimming Coach Shana Erickson

The 2011-12 season will be Shana Erickson's second as the head coach of St. Kate’s swimming & diving program. Erickson is in her seventh season overall with the St. Kate's program, after serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for five seasons.

In her first season at the helm, Erickson was named MIAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year, sharing the honor with Nicole Hempler. During the 2010-11 season, the Wildcats set 12 school records and set three NCAA provisional qualifying marks.

Prior to her arrival at St. Kate's, Erickson was a volunteer assistant coach at Concordia College for one season and coached for three years with two USS swim club programs in Northern Colorado.

Shana is a 2001 graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. As an athlete she qualified for the NCAA National meet three times and was a two-time NCAA All-American. Additionally, Erickson was also a five-time MIAC champion and a seven-time All-MIAC award winner. Since graduation, Shana has continued to be a strong athletic competitor, competing in triathlons and road races around the Midwest. In 2005, she completed her first Ironman triathlon in Madison, Wisconsin.

Shana lives in the Twin Cities with her husband Erik, and daughters Anja and Milla.

Associate Head Coach Nicole Hempler

Nicole Hempler is entering her tenth season with the swimming & diving program at St. Kate’s. Hempler was the head coach for the swimming & diving program for eight seasons, during which time the team's point total and place within the MIAC standings improved each season. In 2008-09 Hempler was named the MIAC Women's Swimming Coach of the year after her athletes set eight school records and had three NCAA National list performances at the MIAC Championships. Hempler earned her second MIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2010-11, sharing the honor with Shana Erickson.

Along with her coaching duties, Hempler is the Assistant Director of the Butler Center which includes running the pool and summer swim program.

Prior to arriving at St. Kate’s, Hempler led the Red Wing High School girl’s swim team to a Minnesota State team title in 2001. That season she also guided the boys swim team to a second place finish at the state meet. While at Red Wing Hempler coached individual state champions in the 200 IM, 100 Fly as well as relay titles in the 200 and 400 Freestyle. Following that 2001 season she was nominated for the Minnesota Class A swimming & diving Coach of the Year award.

Hempler received her B.A. in education from Concordia College in 2001. She was a student assistant with the Cobber swim team from 1997 through 2001. Nicole and her husband Eric have two children, Robert and Isabel.

Diving Coach Scott Smith

Scott Smith is beginning his second season as the diving coach with the St. Kate's swimming & diving program. In his first season with the Wildcats, Smith helped diver Sarah Moody post NCAA qualifying marks in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving.

Before arriving at St. Kate's, Smith served as the head coach of the BOUNCE Dive Club in Minneapolis, and prior to that he was an associate head coach with the Minnesota Diving Academy. From 2004-2009 Smith coached at Twin City Divers, working with all age levels.

Smith has helped develop many national level performers, including athletes who have gone on to compete in the Olympic Games. As an assistant coach with the Mission Viejo Nadadores swim team in California from 1994-2002, Smith coached ten junior diving national champions.