MUNCIE, Ind. – After more than a decade as an assistant coach at Purdue, J. Agnew has been hired as the head coach of the swimming & diving programs at Ball State University.
Ball State Director of Athletics Beth Goetz announced the hiring of Agnew on Tuesday. He had been an assistant with the men's program at Purdue since the summer of 2007. The 2017-18 season was his 11th with the Boilermakers, all working with head coach Dan Ross.
"I am confident that J.'s experience as a proven recruiter, his commitment to the overall development of student-athletes, and his passion for Ball State make him the perfect fit to lead our men's and women's swimming and diving programs to greater heights," Goetz said. "We are excited to welcome J. and his family back to the Cardinal community."
"I have been blessed to work with my friend for the last 11 years, not just professionally but personally, too," Ross said. "In many ways, J. has saved my professional life. He also was very encouraging to me spiritually. He's a man of great faith, a great husband to Kelly and a wonderful father to Haley and Neely. His effect on every Purdue swimmer and diver over the last 11 years with be with each of them for their lifetimes. Ball State is getting a man of character and an alumnus with a sense of duty to help the Cardinals! I am sad, but also excited for the future of both the programs at Ball State and here at Purdue. Jeremy has helped poise us for greatness in the immediate future."
During his 11 years with the Boilermakers, Agnew helped recruit and development student-athletes that were instrumental in Purdue's best showings at the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships. In 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2018, the Boilermakers tied their highest Big Ten finish by placing fourth. At NCAAs, the Boilermakers' 13th-place finishes in 2009, 2010 and 2017 matched the program's best national showing in the modern era.
"Ball State University has always held a special place in my heart," Agnew said. "I was fortunate early in my coaching career to have examples like Laura Seibold-Caudill and Bob Thomas show me what it means to love your team and truly care for your student-athletes in and out of the pool. With respect to these coaches as well as the hard work of Kristy Patterson, I humbly accept the torch that has been passed to me and promise our Cardinals will 'Fly High'.
"I would be remiss not to thank my Boilermaker family that has prepared me well for this opportunity," Agnew added. "Their support has been monumental in this decision. My sincerest thanks to Beth Goetz, Stephanie Martin and the search committee for placing their confidence in me to lead the men and women of Ball State swimming & diving. My family and I are looking forward to embracing the call to lead the Cardinals."
In Agnew's second year at Purdue, he coached Andrew Langenfeld to a Big Ten title and program record in the 50-yard freestyle. Agnew later helped Danny Tucker win the 100-meter freestyle at the 2013 U.S. Open Championship. Breaststroke All-Americans Marat Amaltdinov and Lyam Dias also won Big Ten titles.
The Purdue men were represented by 10 swimmers at both the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. During Agnew's tenure, the Boilermakers broke 37 school records and established a freshman benchmark 26 times. He helped recruit swimmers from more than a dozen states plus eight foreign countries.
Not only was Purdue successful in the pool, but the Boilermakers have been recognized as a College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team every year since 2008.
Before heading to Purdue, Agnew was a successful high school coach with Yorktown High School and the Yorktown Swim Club, which is located less than 10 miles from Ball State. He brought the Yorktown swimming program to unprecedented heights during his seven-year tenure from 2000 to 2007, coaching eight individual state champions and 22 high school All-Americans.
In his final season with Yorktown, Agnew produced seven swimmers who went on to compete for NCAA Division I schools. He was named the 2004 Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Girls Swimming Coach of the Year.
Agnew earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Ball State. He earned a bachelor's in mathematics in 1996 and went on to earn a master's in educational leadership and supervision in 2008. His wife Kelly is also a two-time graduate of Ball State. The couple has two daughters, Haley, a Purdue freshman, and Neely, who will be entering her sophomore year of high school.
Agnew joins Mike Keeler (San Diego) and Tim Kelly (formerly at Davidson, now with the Nation's Capital Swim Club) as former assistants under Ross to become NCAA Division I head coaches.
Ball State Director of Athletics Beth Goetz announced the hiring of Agnew on Tuesday. He had been an assistant with the men's program at Purdue since the summer of 2007. The 2017-18 season was his 11th with the Boilermakers, all working with head coach Dan Ross.
"I am confident that J.'s experience as a proven recruiter, his commitment to the overall development of student-athletes, and his passion for Ball State make him the perfect fit to lead our men's and women's swimming and diving programs to greater heights," Goetz said. "We are excited to welcome J. and his family back to the Cardinal community."
"I have been blessed to work with my friend for the last 11 years, not just professionally but personally, too," Ross said. "In many ways, J. has saved my professional life. He also was very encouraging to me spiritually. He's a man of great faith, a great husband to Kelly and a wonderful father to Haley and Neely. His effect on every Purdue swimmer and diver over the last 11 years with be with each of them for their lifetimes. Ball State is getting a man of character and an alumnus with a sense of duty to help the Cardinals! I am sad, but also excited for the future of both the programs at Ball State and here at Purdue. Jeremy has helped poise us for greatness in the immediate future."
During his 11 years with the Boilermakers, Agnew helped recruit and development student-athletes that were instrumental in Purdue's best showings at the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships. In 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2018, the Boilermakers tied their highest Big Ten finish by placing fourth. At NCAAs, the Boilermakers' 13th-place finishes in 2009, 2010 and 2017 matched the program's best national showing in the modern era.
"Ball State University has always held a special place in my heart," Agnew said. "I was fortunate early in my coaching career to have examples like Laura Seibold-Caudill and Bob Thomas show me what it means to love your team and truly care for your student-athletes in and out of the pool. With respect to these coaches as well as the hard work of Kristy Patterson, I humbly accept the torch that has been passed to me and promise our Cardinals will 'Fly High'.
"I would be remiss not to thank my Boilermaker family that has prepared me well for this opportunity," Agnew added. "Their support has been monumental in this decision. My sincerest thanks to Beth Goetz, Stephanie Martin and the search committee for placing their confidence in me to lead the men and women of Ball State swimming & diving. My family and I are looking forward to embracing the call to lead the Cardinals."
In Agnew's second year at Purdue, he coached Andrew Langenfeld to a Big Ten title and program record in the 50-yard freestyle. Agnew later helped Danny Tucker win the 100-meter freestyle at the 2013 U.S. Open Championship. Breaststroke All-Americans Marat Amaltdinov and Lyam Dias also won Big Ten titles.
The Purdue men were represented by 10 swimmers at both the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. During Agnew's tenure, the Boilermakers broke 37 school records and established a freshman benchmark 26 times. He helped recruit swimmers from more than a dozen states plus eight foreign countries.
Not only was Purdue successful in the pool, but the Boilermakers have been recognized as a College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team every year since 2008.
Before heading to Purdue, Agnew was a successful high school coach with Yorktown High School and the Yorktown Swim Club, which is located less than 10 miles from Ball State. He brought the Yorktown swimming program to unprecedented heights during his seven-year tenure from 2000 to 2007, coaching eight individual state champions and 22 high school All-Americans.
In his final season with Yorktown, Agnew produced seven swimmers who went on to compete for NCAA Division I schools. He was named the 2004 Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Girls Swimming Coach of the Year.
Agnew earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Ball State. He earned a bachelor's in mathematics in 1996 and went on to earn a master's in educational leadership and supervision in 2008. His wife Kelly is also a two-time graduate of Ball State. The couple has two daughters, Haley, a Purdue freshman, and Neely, who will be entering her sophomore year of high school.
Agnew joins Mike Keeler (San Diego) and Tim Kelly (formerly at Davidson, now with the Nation's Capital Swim Club) as former assistants under Ross to become NCAA Division I head coaches.