In 2020, Erin Hurley begins her 27th season as Grinnell College's head swimming and diving coach. As a faculty member she teaches swimming, triathlon, and Lifeguard Instruction courses.
A 1989 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Hurley had a successful career as a Cornhusker swimmer. Competing in breaststroke and individual medley events, she was a three-time Big Eight Conference Champion and a four-time NCAA-All American.
Hurley's first coaching stint involved graduate assisting at the University of Iowa with the women's swim program from 1990-92. While earning an M.A. in physical education (sport psychology) at the University of Iowa, Hurley served as swimming coach at Cornell College (Mt. Vernon, Iowa) in 1992-93.
From 1993-95, she was the men's and women's swim coach and aquatics director at Illinois Wesleyan University, a Division III school in Bloomington, Ill. In the spring of 1995, she was honored as the Illinois men's swimming coach of the year in the college division.
Since her arrival at Grinnell, Hurley has been voted MWC Women’s Coach of the Year five times (2004, 2006, 2015, 2017 and 2018), MWC Men’s Coach of the Year 11 times (2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), MWC Coach of the Year three times (1999, 2002, and 2003), and MWC Co-Coach of the Year in 1998.
Hurley's success has not gone unnoticed on the national scene, as she recently received one of six major awards from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). She collected the Richard E. Steadman Award, which is presented to a coach who, in the opinion of the CSCAA, has done the most to spread happiness in Coach Steadman's sport.Â
In 2001, Hurley was voted Iowa Small College Coach of the Year for women's swimming and in 2002 she was recognized as the Iowa Small College Coach of the Year for men's swimming. In 2002 she was also tabbed Iowa Small College Co-Women's coach of the Year.
Hurley's women's team won 20 of the last 21 Midwest Conference titles, while the men's squad has captured 17 of the past 19 MWC titles.
Hurley was a part of school history in 2013 when Michael Brus '14 became the first-ever Pioneer to win an NCAA Division III National Swimming championship, as he claimed the 200-yard backstroke in national-record time.
Both teams continue to be honored by the College Swim Coaches Association for excellence in academics.
