LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Shana Welch, a three-time member of the American Water Polo Coaches Association All-America Team at the University of Michigan, has been named assistant men's and women's swimming and diving coach at Bucknell University. Welch will look to guide Bucknell's women's team win its fifth Patriot League title in seven years and the men's squad attain its first league title since 2003.

Welch, a 2007 Michigan graduate with a degree in sociology, spent 2007-2008 as a strength and conditioning intern coach, following a year of professional water polo in Perth, Australia, with the UWA Perth Comets. During the summer of 2007, Welch served as a volunteer trainer for the strength and conditioning program at Michigan, and in 2007 and 2008 Welch was a coach at Michigan's water polo camp.

"We are very excited and happy to have Shana joining our program for the upcoming season," Bucknell head coach Dan Schinnerer said. "The experiences she brings as an elite level athlete will be a great asset to the team, as will her energy, passion, and competitiveness. I also think her experience working with the Michigan Strength and Conditioning staff will be valuable in augmenting and enhancing our dryland and strength and conditioning programs."

Over her four years as a student-athlete at Michigan, Welch established herself as one of the best players in Wolverine water polo history. She established new program records for career goals (297) and points (393), served as team captain in 2006 and 2007 and was named MVP of the CWPA Western Division in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Welch also excelled outside of the pool, receiving the University of Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement Award in 2006 and 2007.

A native of Larksville, Pa., Welch achieved All-America recognition from the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events while a student at Wyoming West Valley High School. Her 14 years of competitive swimming experience helped her to become a four-time conference swimmer of the year and received 15 PIAA District II swimming medals, while also winning four letters each in water polo and soccer.