Monmouth College has named Tom Burek to oversee the water sports at the college as the director of aquatics.
Burek will take the reins as head coach of the swimming program, where will be joined by dive coach Al McGuire and water polo head coach Josh Dunn. The trio was on staff last season when the Fighting Scots men and women placed third at the Midwest Conference championships, with the women equaling their highest finish in the program history. Before coming to Monmouth last season, Burek – who recently retired from the Public Information Office of the Illinois State Police – coached numerous club teams in Illinois.
McGuire, who earned All-American and Hall of Fame status at Loras College, will patrol the diving well. Under his guidance last season, the Scots' diving team broke their school record for points at the conference championships.
Dunn leads Monmouth's newest varsity sports – men's and women's water polo – after a distinguished career for Monmouth as a swimmer and a member of the school's national championship men's club water polo team. Dunn holds numerous Fighting Scots' swim records and is a five-time conference champion.
"I look forward to the experience and leadership that Tom and his staff will provide our overall aquatic program," said MC director of athletics Roger Haynes. "Each is a key component in the college's desire to have one of the best aquatics programs in the Midwest. Tom's vast experience, coaching and organizational skills combined with Al's expertise in the diving events and Josh's knowledge of water polo gives us a unique combination that few schools can offer their student-athletes."
The coaching assignments came following former aquatics' director Alex de la Pena's move to Division I Brown University. In two seasons at Monmouth, de la Pena guided the women's swim team to their highest MWC Championships finishes in the history of the program. Last season, his men's team recorded their best league finish in four years.
"It was an honor and a privilege to be the head swimming and diving coach at Monmouth the past two years," said de la Pena. "I especially want to thank director of athletics Roger Haynes and the administration for granting me the opportunity to work with a great group of student-athletes. I am very proud of what the teams accomplished, and I am confident they will continue to be successful in the future."
With the addition of water polo this fall, Monmouth's aquatics sports will get an early start. Men's water polo will be the first aquatic team in action this year, opening their inaugural season Sept 14-15 with a home tournament at the Pepper Natatorium. Swimming and diving opens their season Nov. 16 with a triangular at Carroll, while women's water polo will host the Collegiate Water Polo Association's (CWPA) West Region Round Robin Mar. 15-16.
