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Swimming and Diving at DePauw University

by Jake Shanley

DePauw University, a school of about 2,400 undergraduates, resides just forty minutes west of Indianapolis in the town of Greencastle, Indiana.  An eighty acre nature park which is owned by the University can be found nearby.  “You can actually walk to it from our campus without much trouble” said Head Swimming Coach Adam Cohen.  “There is a beautiful lake filled quarry in there, running trails, outdoor amphitheater, and some people even go camping in it.  It is really just a beautiful area.”

 “I really feel that the environment the students are supported in and the academic successes of our athletes come from this incredibly supportive and tight knit community”

According to Coach Cohen, the first thing a prospective student may notice once arriving at the University is that “this campus has incredible opportunities, and there will be a lot of people who will bend over backwards to make sure you can take advantage of those opportunities.”  Coach Cohen also added that DePauw is “a University who really likes to say yes.  We really work hard to say yes when a student comes up to us.  That is something that we pride ourselves on.”

While some colleges are founded by a few individuals or organizations, DePauw University is a product of the surrounding community.  The University was founded in 1837 after the local community members together raised enough money to have the school be erected.  This set the base for a strong close-community feeling that  is still prominent to this day:  “I really feel that the environment the students are supported in and the academic successes of our athletes come from this incredibly supportive and tight knit community” said Coach Cohen.  “Students will tell you that it is a welcoming community.  People stop and say hello to you on the street – they know students by name.”

“This is a team undertaking and we work really hard at making sure the recruits we bring in fit that type of environment,”

This close-community ideology permeates the DePauw swim team as well:  “We really preach the family mentality here,” commented Coach Cohen.  “I always tell recruits I think the hardest word of the English language is, ‘I need help’.  What we want is to create a family environment that says ‘I am comfortable asking for help and I will ask for help’.”  Having a team where the members consider it to be a family can have its benefits.  This year, DePauw Swimming qualified nine men to the NCAA Division III National Meet, and will only graduate one senior this year.  “Next year we only graduate two of those kids, so we feel like right now is not a bad time to be here.”

Every prospect must do the necessary research when looking for the right school and be sure to be honest when communicating with coaches.  “I think number one you have to be upfront with the coach.  You need to fill out those online questionnaires or write the coach a direct email,” said Coach Cohen.  Having solid communication with the coach, however, is not enough:  “I think that nothing replaces the visit – being on campus and spending time with the people you are going to be spending time with.”  Coach Cohen vindicates his point by offering a scenario where a coach could tell you simply exactly what you wanted to hear, but “the guys who you are going to be swimming with are going to be the ones who are going to make it very clear to you what it is like.  Nothing replaces the visit by a recruit and his family.”

“I think that nothing replaces the visit – being on campus and spending time with the people you are going to be spending time with.”

Recruits who will likely fit best into DePauw are those willing to embrace the family, get good grades, and are up for a challenge.  “This is a team undertaking and we work really hard at making sure the recruits we bring in fit that type of environment,” said Coach Cohen.  After placing 3rd at the NCAC conference meet and 19th at the NCAA Division III National Meet, the team looks to carry the positive momentum into next season.