Under first-year head coach Ian Coffey, Radford swimming and diving opens its 2012-13 campaign on the road, Friday, at North Carolina A&T. The Highlanders and Aggies will square off in a Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) meet at 5:00 p.m. in the Corbett Sports Center.

“I am really excited for our first meet on Friday,” commented Coffey. “The swimmers and divers have been training hard and I am very happy with their improvement.  With this being my first meet as the head coach at Radford University, we are starting a new era Friday and I am looking forward to some fast swims.”

A LOOK AT RU: Ian Coffey took over the reigns of the program in July becoming the third head coach in the program's young history… Veteran coach Patrick Pyrch will work with the divers… 10 Highlanders (2 seniors, 6 juniors, 2 sophomores), which comprise of eight swimmers and two divers return from last year's squad… They will be joined by eight newcomers (7 swimmers & 1 diver)… Radford posted 28 personal bests and six new top-10 times at CCSAs.
 
A LOOK AT A&T: It is the home opener for the Aggies, who opened the season with an 11^th place finish (out of 13) at the All-North Carolina Invitational last weekend.

LAST SEASON: Radford defeated North Carolina A&T, 159-79 in a head-to-head matchup and 230-41 at the CCSA Duals… In the dual meet, the Highlanders placed first and second and recorded 21 top-2 finishes at the Corbett Sports Center.

UP NEXT: Radford welcomes CCSA newcomer UNC Asheville to the Dedmon Center Natatorium on Saturday, Oct. 20 for the Highlanders' home opener at 11:00 a.m.

NOTE: There will be no diving competition.