Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston and head swimming coach Kirk Sanocki announce a pair of promotions this week. Greg Doyle has been named the associate head coach for women's swimming and aquatics, while Kevin Hennessy ('10) has been named the associate head coach for men's swimming and aquatics. The promotions take effect on August 1, 2020.
 
Along with these promotions, Doyle and Hennessy will retain assistant coaching responsibilities with the other gender. Most recently, Doyle and Hennessy coached 26 WUSWIM student-athletes to 68 CSCAA All-American swims in 2020 (52 first team honors, 16 honorable mentions).
 
"I am pleased to recognize the excellent work of Coach Doyle and Coach Hennessy with these well-deserved promotions," Poston says. "Both have been and will continue to be valuable contributors to the success of our nationally-ranked women's and men's swimming teams."
 
Greg Doyle day-by-day
 
- Direction of WUSWIM sprinters
 
- Direction for recruitment of women's swimming prospective student-athletes (PSAs)
 
- Oversight of lifeguards' employment (12 months)
 
- Coordination of swimming lesson schedule
 
- Promotion of swimming camps
 
- Supervision of one of two WUSWIM graduate assistants to assist in functions listed above
 
Greg Doyle biographical sketch
 
- Three-time swimming All-American at SUNY Oswego (class of 2008)
 
- CSCAA Scholar All-American as well
 
- Received master's degree in athletic administration from Coker ('15)

- Held two head coaching posts prior to Wingate (Limestone, S.C. and York, Pa.)
 
- Coached a York (Pa.) student-athlete who became NCAA D3 champion in the men's 100 breaststroke; same individual advanced to the 2016 Olympic Trials

- Married Stephanie (Hotrovich) Doyle in Sept. 2012; two children (Rylan, 7 and Nolan, 3)
 
- Greg Doyle's words (1/3): "Blessed to have two wonderful supporting parents (Greg, Sr. and Bonnie) through my undergraduate athletic career and now in my profession as a swimming coach."
 
- Greg Doyle's words (2/3): "My dad (Greg Doyle, Sr.) passed away this winter, but left me with a tremendous wealth of knowledge on how to treat people with respect, what it means to have a strong work ethic and how to overcome adversity."

- Greg Doyle's words (3/3): "I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with many high caliber student-athletes at numerous institutions."
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, PART ONE
 
Kirk Sanocki on Doyle:
 
"Greg has an extensive background in the sport. We were fortunate two years ago when our team expanded and we needed someone to coach our sprinters. It was hard to lure him (to Wingate), but he was intrigued by the possibilities. Our sprinting depth is getting better and it is showing with our relays. Given his prior head coaching experience, this was an easy promotion."
 
Doyle on this adventure:
 
"I want to thank Steve Poston and Kirk Sanocki for giving me this special opportunity. I am thankful to work with great student-athletes and fellow coaches daily and look forward to getting back on campus to continue to build upon Wingate's strong tradition of excellence."
 
Kevin Hennessy day-by-day
 
- Direction of WUSWIM middle-distance and distance swimmers
 
- Direction for recruitment of men's swimming PSAs
 
- Direction for the AquaDog youth team (12 months)
 
- Coordination assistance with pool rentals, pool memberships and aquatics in general
 
- Supervision of one of two WUSWIM graduate assistants to provide social media help
 
Kevin Hennessy biographical sketch
 
- Three-time Bluegrass Mountain Conference champion and CSCAA Scholar All-American at Wingate (class of 2010)
 
- Coached Coast Guard Blue Dolphins Swim Team in Virginia prior to his WU return
 
- Married Jordan (Filchock) Hennessy in Nov. 2019; pair recently bought their first house
 
- Kevin Hennessy's words (1/3): "I have had the opportunity to coach at all levels of our sport and made many great friends. I have met so many great families and swimmers who have all added to my life in some way." 
 
- Kevin Hennessy's words (2/3): "I am blessed to have two wonderful, supporting parents through my undergraduate athletic career and now in my profession as a swimming coach."
 
- Kevin Hennessy's words (3/3): "I would not be where I am without the love and support from my parents, Steve and Sandy Hennessy. Their constant guidance throughout my athletic and professional career has truly helped me to grow into the person I am today."
 
- Avid New York Mets fan ("Let's go, Mets!")
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, PART TWO
 
Kirk Sanocki on Hennessy:
 
"I have known Kevin and his abilities going back to his time as a swimmer here at Wingate, starting in 2007.  He has excelled with each responsibility or task assigned over the past four years as an assistant coach. The middle-distance and distance group has grown on a number of levels under his guidance. He is ready for this promotion."
 
Hennessy on this adventure:
 
"I would like to thank Mr. Poston and Kirk Sanocki for this opportunity. I am extremely excited and honored to be named an associate head coach. I have learned a great deal from Kirk and I cannot say enough about how much I look forward to continue working with him and Greg. Being able to give back to the program I was a part of…has been a blessing. I'm excited to step into this new role and continue helping our student-athletes grow and reach their full potential."
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, PART THREE
 
Wingate rising senior Aaron Bowman (Thomasville, N.C.) on Greg Doyle:
 
What is a coach? Or a better question…what is the role of a coach? A coach is responsible for training athletes in a sport by analyzing their performances, instructing in relevant skills and by providing encouragement. A coach is also responsible for the guidance of the athlete in life and their chosen sport.
 
To simplify, the role of a coach is not just about coaching! Coach Greg is not only a coach. He is a friend, a captain and a top-notch, one-of-a-kind, game changer. Coach Greg knows that to be good, one must put in the work. He also knows that to be great you must be able to have fun in the pursuit of excellence. John Wooden, an American basketball player and previous UCLA head coach once said, "A good coach can change a game. But a great coach can change a life." I believe these words perfectly describe my coach, Greg Doyle.
 
Wingate rising junior Kate Agger (Broomall, Pa.) on Kevin Hennessy:
 
I feel blessed to have been trained by Coach Kevin over the past two years. I respect him both as a gifted coach as well as a devoted friend who truly cares about others both in-and-out of the pool. Kevin has an innate talent to connect with his swimmers and push them just enough without over-pushing, which enables them to achieve personal bests.
 
He always gives 150 percent, but never takes himself too seriously…which helps to create a relaxing and carefree atmosphere on deck. Kevin's coaching ability inspires me to perform at a much higher level than I ever thought possible. Prior to coming to Wingate, I had set several lofty goals for myself. One was to make it to nationals and another to achieve All-American status. Kevin's coaching style and training strategy enabled me to attain these goals as a freshman by capturing an NCAA individual All-American trophy. The confidence he instills, day-in and day-out, gives me the drive to exceed my own expectations.
 
After years of Wingate only knowing defeat by the Queens University of Charlotte ladies, I was able to finally break that trend and beat them in distance events at several key meets…something I didn't think was possible. One thing of which I am certain: without Kevin's support, encouragement and devotion…achieving this goal would not have been possible. Wingate is fortunate to have such a terrific and talented coach committed to its success. The distance swimmers are in excellent hands under Kevin's leadership!
 
WINGATE SWIMMING QUICK FACTS
 
- Wingate has 44 NCAA national championship swims lifetime (30 women, 14 men)
 
- At NCAAs, the WU women have earned second place once (2016) and third twice
 
- The 'Dogs have earned fifth place at NCAA men's meet once with five sixth-place showings
 
- WUSWIM student-athletes have earned Academic All-America® at-large team honors from CoSIDA 32 times (17 men, 15 women)
 
- A school-record 25 WUSWIM student-athletes were named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans earlier this week
 
- Wingate has 11 BMC titles (seven men's championships and four women's crowns)
 
- Wingate's Kirk Sanocki enters his 20th year at WU this fall (20 years with WUSWIM women's team, 16 years with men's squad)
 
- Sanocki has 11 Bob Busby Awards for BMC Coach of the Year (six men, five women)
 
 - Sanocki has been named NCAA D2 national COTY twice (women 2016, men 2012)
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 36 undergraduate majors as well as six master's and four doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Wingate is the leading healthcare education provider in western North Carolina, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Athletes on Wingate's 23 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 13 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.