Kristin Zdanczewicz Named Assistant Strength Coach
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami Athletics Department announced Friday the hiring of Kristin Zdanczewicz as an assistant strength coach.
A native of Milwaukee, Zdanczewicz will work primarily with the women’s basketball and swimming teams.
“Kristin has a proven background and commitment in developing athletes at an elite level,” Miami head women’s basketball coach Katie Meier said. “She will help our players become better on the court while providing them with knowledge and tools they can take into life after college. As a competitive athlete herself, Kristin brings high levels of energy and discipline that positively impact our entire program.”
Zdanczewicz previously served as the assistant director of strength and conditioning at the University of Minnesota for three years. During her time with the Golden Gophers, she worked with the women’s track and field, women’s cross country and gymnastics teams.
At Minnesota, Zdanczewicz coached 11 All-Americans, six Olympic Trial athletes and five Big Ten event champions in track and field, as well as five All-Big Ten honorees in cross country and one Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. She also helped guide the Gophers to their first Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championship title in 2016.
Prior to her time at Minnesota, Zdanczewicz spent three years at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. While with the Panthers, she was in charge of strength and conditioning for men’s and women’s swimming and diving, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and women’s tennis.
Under her watch, the swimming and diving teams had 30 conference event champions and soccer had two Horizon League Player of the Year honorees. In addition, soccer and women’s swimming and diving both won two conference titles, while volleyball won one.
Zdanczewicz played extensively for the USA Women’s National Rugby Team, serving as captain in 2007 and 2008, as well as taking part in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Of her 17 years of competitive rugby, she spent 13 at the international level, earning 23 caps.
“I am very excited about the addition of Kristin to the Hurricane family and excited that our women will get to work with her,” Miami head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “She has great knowledge and high standards. Those two traits will make our women stronger in a way that will make them faster and will help them develop as leaders, students and citizens.”
Zdanczewicz has numerous certifications, including from USA Weightlifting and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. A member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Zdanczewicz earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2003 from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she was a four-year letter winner in basketball.
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