2023-24 RMAC Swimming & Diving Awards: MEN | WOMEN
 
COLORADO SPRINGS – Colorado School of Mines Swimming Head Coach Claire McDaniel was named the 2024 RMAC Swimming & Diving Men's Coach of the Year on Thursday as the conference office unveiled the 2023-24 major awards and all-conference teams.
 
It marks McDaniel's third RMAC Coach of the Year award on the men's side. She earned the same distinction in 2021 and 2022. The other major awards for the men were swept by Colorado Mesa. Ben Sampson was the RMAC Swimmer of the Year, Isaiah Cheeks won RMAC Diver of the Year, and Jameson McEnaney was RMAC Freshman of the Year. On the women's side, Colorado Mesa took three of four superlative honors Agata Naskret won RMAC Swimmer of the Year, Jenna Hurley was RMAC Diver of the Year, and Mickey Wender was RMAC Women's Coach of the Year. Simon Fraser's Laine Perry won RMAC Freshman of the Year. The major awards were voted on by each of the league's head coaches which means McDaniel was considered the best men's coach in the league by her peers.  
 
In total, McDaniel coached the Oredigger men to a runner-up finish at the 2024 RMAC Swimming & Diving Championships. Team silver for Mines' men was fueled by 14 All-RMAC performances including six silver medals and five bronze medals. McDaniel's guidance helped three Oredigger men qualify for the 2024 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships where they finished tied for 34th in the team standings. Additionally, McDaniel coached Mines' women to a runner-up finish at the conference championships as well. She did so thanks to gold medals from Jordan Tierney (100-breast, 200-breast) and Annie Osmun (100-fly). Overall, the Oredigger women had eight All-RMAC finishes including three gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals. Three of Mines' women and one relay went on to the national meet and finished 25th in the nation.
 
The 2023-24 campaign marked McDaniel's fifth season at the helm for the Orediggers. She swept the men's and women's RMAC Coach of the Year awards in both 2021 and 2022. The veteran coach was voted RMAC Women's Coach of the Year in 2023 and added the men's award this season for a total of six conference coach of the year awards in half a decade. The list of accolades earned during McDaniel's tenure at Mines is lengthy and can be found in her biography at www.minesathletics.com.
 
As the offseason rolls on, any and all postseason awards along with the signing class for the 2024-25 season will be announced at www.minesthletics.com and on social media.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines swimming on "X" (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram at @MinesSwimming. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.