STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State women's swimming head coach Bill Dorenkott has been named head coach of the men's and women's combined swimming and diving program, Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley announced today. Dorenkott, who will fill the vacancy left by the departure of 17-year men's swimming coach Peter Brown, will continue to lead the women's program in addition to heading up the men's squad.

"I am honored and flattered that the athletic administration has presented this challenge to our staff," Dorenkott said. "The foundation has been laid by Peter Brown and Mike Davidson for a combined program to thrive at the Big Ten, NCAA and international levels.

"Our goals will continue to be the providing of opportunities for the best and brightest student athletes to pursue their dreams in the classroom and the pool at Penn State University," Dorenkott added.

The combining of the men's and women's swimming programs under one head coach makes it the second sport at Penn State to take up the format. The nationally renowned fencing program, which has claimed eight national championships, also combines the men's and women's squads under one head coach, Emick Kaidannov.

"In researching other top combined programs throughout the country, we found many positives that would enable Penn State to continue to move forward in the collegiate swimming and diving arena," said Sue Scheetz, Penn State assistant athletic director. "Bill Dorenkott's past involvement and tremendous success with our men's and women's program makes him the ideal choice to be the first coach of the combined programs."

Dorenkott has served as the head of the Nittany Lion women's program for the past three seasons and led the squad to its best NCAA (11th) and Big Ten (second) finishes in the program's history in 2000-01. In addition, Dorenkott has been named as an assistant coach for the United States World University Games Team, which will compete in Beijing, China from August 22-September 1.

During Penn State's record-setting 2000-01 campaign, the Nittany Lions boasted six All-Big Ten swimmers, including the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Kristen Woodring. Dorenkott also has stressed academic excellence during his time in Happy Valley, as evidenced by his squad earning team academic All-America status for the past three seasons. Individually, a total of 16 Nittany Lions earned Academic All-America honors since Dorenkott took over the program in 1998-99.

Prior to his appointment with the Penn State women, Dorenkott was an assistant coach for the Nittany Lion men from 1995-1998 and was the men's and women's head coach at Ashland (Ohio) University between 1993-95.

"Bill Dorenkott is one of the most dynamic swimming coaches on the scene today," said Bob Krimmel, Penn State assistant athletic director. "I am delighted that he has accepted this new opportunity to serve as the head coach of the entire Penn State swimming and diving program. Under Coach Dorenkott's leadership, I believe Penn State will continue to be a power in the Big Ten as well as at the NCAA Championships on both the men's and women's side."