University of Sioux Falls announces Rickey Perkins as head women’s swimming coach

Courtesy: USF Athletics

SIOUX FALLS, SD – The University of Sioux Falls, along with Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jon Hart, is proud to announce the third head coach in USF women’s swimming history as Ricky Perkins.

“We are extremely excited to add Rickey and his wife Delores to the USF family,” Hart said. “Rickey brings significant experience as a head coach at the NCAA DI and NCAA DII levels. Its recruitment networks are extensive both nationally and internationally. He has a genuine interest in the holistic student-athlete experience, and we can’t wait for him to get started.” »

A five-time NCAA Division I Conference Coach of the Year, Perkins joins USF after serving as head coach of NCAA Division I program Bowling Green. During his tenure, he coached several student-athletes to DI NCAA championships and 10 Mid-American Conference champions. Perkins has produced seven All-MAC athletes as well as a three-time MAC Diver of the Year. In the classroom, the Falcons had 107 MAC All-Academic honorees, along with two Academic All-Americans and a CSCAA All-Academic Team nod.

“The University of Sioux Falls embodies the values ​​and spirit that I hold dear,” Perkins said. “During the interview process, I immediately felt a sense of belonging and connection with University leadership, including President Bradfield, Jon Hart, Mekonnen Afa, Brittany Domino, the other coaches, the swim team and everyone I met during the discussions. This sense of camaraderie and shared vision further solidified my decision to accept the position and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead and inspire the talented student-athletes at USF.

Prior to Bowling Green, Perkins was the head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming program at the University of Evansville for 16 years, an NCAA Division I institution in Evansville, Indiana. The five-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year has coached 13 individual MVC champions along with 70 all-conference nominations. During his time with the Aces, he produced 16 All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans and 95 MVC All-Scholar athletes while breaking more than 30 school records.

Perkins spent three years at the University of Washington before Evansville, where he was head assistant swimming coach, recruiting coordinator and academic coach for the Huskies.

Prior to Washington, Perkins was the national coach for the Barracuda Swim Club in Nassau, Bahamas. He worked with competitive age groups as well as the national team’s senior program while breaking seven meet records and recording the best finish in program history at the Caribbean’s premier swimming competition , the CARIFTA Swimming Championships.

Perkins began his college coaching career at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he led the Seawolves from 1994 to 1998. He helped his alma mater finish 13th in the NCAA Division II Championships.

The Midland, Texas, native earned a degree in physical education from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1991. Perkins and his wife Delores join the Cougar family later this summer and he will begin his role July 1.