Catching Up with Tulane Swimming and Diving Head Coach Leah Stancil

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane University swimming and diving head coach Leah Stancil took time away from her busy schedule recently to discuss the Green Wave's 2019-20 season.

In two seasons, Stancil and her staff had elevated the Green Wave swimming and diving program in a number of areas and have the program positioned well for a strong 2020-21 campaign.

Check out the complete interview below.

How are you feeling after battling cancer for most of your second season at Tulane?
"I am doing pretty well. I still haven't finished treatment but I am closer to the finish line which feels great. I am so proud of our team and staff for being so resilient during this year. We stepped up to the challenge of an extremely unfortunate and unorthodox situation and I think we were pretty successful."

How did you manage the challenges of battling cancer and being there for the team throughout the year?
"Honestly, I look back at the season and I think to myself "How did I do that?" I believe that God gave me the strength and provided me with a supportive team, staff and athletic department to pull me through. If anything, the team and my staff were there for me throughout the year. I remember a day that I was a "hot mess" – I was so emotionally and physically tired – and I wanted to stay and coach but Kosuke just sent me home! I needed to be told to go home."

What was your biggest sense of accomplishment during your second season at Tulane?
"I think the obvious and go-to answer is have two athletes qualify for NCAAs and I am very proud of that team accomplishment. In addition to that, my biggest sense of accomplishment was simply getting through the season. I hope I modelled what it looks like to be resilient when life comes out of nowhere and sucker-punches you."

How pleased have you been with the progression of the program after two seasons at Tulane?
"I am extremely pleased with the progression of the program. This year besides the physical training, we worked a lot on the mentality of our athletes. What mental state do we need to be in to perform at our best? Visualization; Rehearsal of meet preparation; How do we handle our fears; Gratitude; handling disappointment. Our team continues to challenge each other as the season progresses."

What has been your biggest takeaway since becoming the head coach of Tulane Swimming and Diving?
"My biggest takeaway is that I am always learning. It's like parenting – just when you think you have it all figured out, something comes along and catches me off guard."

How big of a step was it for the program to have two individuals qualify for NCAA's this past year?
"It was a huge step for the program. It showed what we are capable of doing as a team and the direction that we are headed."

How challenging was it for you to deliver the news to Lilly Byrne and Olivia Johnson that they would not be able to compete in the NCAA Championships?
"It broke my heart to have to tell them because we were so excited to show their talents. It was a huge accomplishment for Lilly as a freshman and she is from Atlanta so she had a lot of family coming to support her, which is always exciting. For Olivia, our senior, it was something she had been trying to do since her freshman year. She came so close to qualifying her junior year and it was so great to see her finally qualify her senior year – and she was having a great season. It was tough."

How have you and your staff remained closed with your team even though they are no longer on campus due to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
"Since they were home, we have had team Zoom meetings twice a week. Generally our meetings entailed a variety of activities. We had our "check-ins", we played games, we reviewed a book, we had guest speakers and we learned more about each other and how we can make the team better. One of my favorite things we did was that our captains made a Jeopardy game and quizzed the staff about the team – I hate to admit that we didn't do as well as I would have liked."

How have members of the team maintained their high levels of conditioning during this time away from campus?
"What has been great is that we have great leadership with our captains. The team has been holding each other accountable with workouts and keeping each other motivated. Unfortunately, swimming has not been option for many of them, so they have been doing a lot of dryland workout (circuits, running, riding bikes). Some have even tried to be creative in their backyard pools.

What would you say to any parent that has concerns about sending their daughter back to Tulane during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
"At Tulane we are very fortunate to have some of the best medical facilities and doctors in the country, including our very own Dr. Greg Stewart, who is serving as the Chair of the AAC COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group. I also have been amazed with the steps that our administration has taken to ensure everyone's safety."

Have you finalized the 2020-21 schedule as of yet and if so when would you expect that to be released?
"We are in the process of finalizing the schedule. We hope to have it posted by the end of July."

How excited are you for the incoming recruiting class for next season?
"I am so excited to work with our incoming class. Our captains have already involved them on team chats and I believe they will hit the ground running. This incoming class will add to the already high standards that our team has in and out of the pool. It is going to be fun."

What does the future hold for Tulane Swimming and Diving and how high can this program go?
"I will put no limits on this team. I want these athletes to be the best that they can be. Everyone plays a role in the success of the team – once we are all moving in the same direction and in the right direction – only time will tell what can be accomplished. I am expecting more conference champions, NCAA qualifiers and NCAA All-Americans. In terms of academics and life after swimming, our (my staff and I) goal is to help produce strong and memorable leaders in the athletes' field of choice."

Be sure to follow the program on Facebook and Twitter (@GreenWaveSwim) and on Instagram (@TulaneSwimDive). Fans can also follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Catching Up with Tulane Swimming and Diving Head Coach Leah Stancil

Players Mentioned

Lilly Byrne

Olivia Johnson

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