Mr. Garry Nelson
Head Coach - Men and Women’s Swimming
Last Updated 8-26-08

Mr. Garry Nelson graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1979 with a B.S. in Physical Education. He joined the staff at the University of the Cumberlands in 2001, and has currently accumulated 29 years experience in coaching at the USS Club level and the collegiate levels.

Coaching experience:
College:  Cumberlands 2001-current
               Broward CC 1989-98
Club: Head Coach, Sunrise Seahawks 1998-2000
      Head Coach, Broward Seahawks 1990-98
      Head Age Group Coach, Plantation, FL 1985-89
      Head Coach Greensboro, NC 1983-85
      Head Age Group Coach, Richmond, VA 1982-83
      Head Age Group Coach, Ft. Laud ST 1981-82

Coaching Honors:

Cumberlands:
Female NAIA Coach of the Year 2006-2007
President, NAIA Swimming Coaches Association, 2007-2008
Vice-President, NAIA Swimming Coaches Association, 2006-2007
Secretary, NAIA Swimming Coaches Association, 2005-2006

Our Men and Women have set 71 new team records since 2001
50 NAIA All-Americans (top 3 at our nationals)
146 CSCCA All-Americans (honorable mention 4-8 at Nationals)
23 Academic All-Americans (3.5 GPA)
Dual Meet Record of 52-10 Men and 52-13 Women
2008 Men 5th at Nationals and Women 4th at Nationals
3 NAIA National Champions

Broward CC:

National Coach of the Year 1994-95
Elected BCC Sports Hall of Fame 1999
7 National Records
42 Individual Champions--8 relay champions
14 Academic All-Americans
Female Swimmer of the Year 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996
Male Swimmer of the Year 1996
232 total NJCAA All-Americans

Club Coaching: 

7 Swimmers USS National Qualifiers
55 Swimmers Junior National Qualifiers
56 Swimmers National Age Group Individual Top 16 Finish
49 National Age Group Relays ranked Top 10

Certifications: 

American Swimming Coaches Association
ASCA Level 5 College (Highest Rank)
ASCA Level 5 Age Group USS (Highest Level)
ASCA Level 4 Senior USS

Phone: 606.539.4485
Email: gnelson@ucumberlands.edu

Ms. Tasha Perry
Assistant Coach - Swimming

Ms. Tasha Perry begins her second year as an assistant swimming coach after a highly successful collegiate swimming career.

Perry transferred to Cumberlands in 2002 having attended Broward Community College in Davie, Florida from 1998-1999. While at Cumberlands she was named an NAIA All-American 21 times. She was first runner up at the NAIA Nationals in 2005 in the 100 backstroke and was a NAIA National Champion in 2005 in the 200 backstroke. She was the swimming team captain from 2003-2005 and currently holds team records in the 200 Free, 200 MR, the 400 Free, the 400 MR, the 800 Free, the 50 Free, the 100 Backstroke, and the 200 Backstroke.

While serving as a swimming coach volunteer during the 2005-2006 season, Perry also was named the women’s wrestling graduate assistant.

Perry, a native of Ocala, Florida, attended Vanguard High School. She was graduated from the University of the Cumberlands in August 2007 with a biology degree.