ERIE, Pa. - Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., has named Don Sherman interim Director of Athletics, effective immediately. The University will conduct a national search for a permanent Director of Athletics.

Sherman was hired as Gannon’s first full-time Associate Director of Athletics in 2004, serving under former Directors of Athletics Bill Elias and Gilbert “Griz” Zimmerman. He helped move Gannon from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) within the last year. The 2008-09 academic year is the school’s first as a member of the PSAC.

The Erie, Pa., native will continue to serve as the women’s and men’s water polo coach. In addition to raising the water polo programs to the varsity level in 2001, he previously served as the head swimming coach for eight seasons.

Sherman begins his eighth season as Gannon’s head women’s water polo coach this March and completed his sixth season as the men’s head coach last fall. He coached the women’s team for five seasons on the varsity level and the men’s squad for four seasons until stepping down after the 2004-05 campaigns to concentrate on his Associate Director of Athletics position. Sherman returned to the deck in 2007-08 after a brief one-year hiatus while continuing to serve as the Associate A.D. in addition to his coaching duties.

Sherman has been named Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Western Division Women’s Water Polo Coach of the Year twice, in 2002 and 2007. The women’s program has never recorded a losing record during its eight-year history. The Lady Knights qualified for back-to-back Eastern Championships in 2003 and 2004, being the only non-Division I school at both events. The Eastern Championships are the equivalent to the NCAA Regionals in other sports.

The men’s water polo program has also flourished under Sherman, recording a 77-62 record in six seasons. Sherman is at his best during local rivalries. His water polo teams are 28-7 all-time against Mercyhurst (Men 13-7/Women 15-0) and 31-0 all-time against Penn State Behrend (Men 18-0/Women 13-0).

Sherman began his career at Gannon as an assistant swimming and diving coach under former Gannon head coach Rick Goerlitz. He was appointed head women’s and men’s swimming coach in the summer of 1997. The men’s program had four consecutive winning seasons while the women’s program produced winning records in four of Sherman’s last five campaigns. Both squads went 10-1 during Sherman’s last season in 2004-05.

A longtime member of the Gannon athletic department, Sherman has 28 years of involvement with aquatics and pool management as a coach, instructor, swimmer, and lifeguard. He served as the Financial Director for the Downtown Erie YMCA prior to coming to Gannon.

Sherman graduated from Slippery Rock University with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Sports Management. He was a member of the Rocket water polo team that finished eighth at the NCAA National Championships in 1984. He later served as an assistant student coach for the Slippery Rock men’s swimming team, and also has experience as the Cathedral Prep assistant swimming and water polo coach.

Release courtesy Gannon Athletic Communications