Demerae Christianson, a 15-time All-America swimmer at Auburn from 2001-2004, has been hired as an assistant coach for the Tigers, Head Coach Brett Hawke announced Friday.
Christianson returns to the Plains after a three-year coaching stint at Arizona State, where she helped the women's team to three straight NCAA top-25 finishes. Additionally, the Sun Devil men's team finished in the top 25 twice under her guidance.
"Adding Demerae to the Auburn program brings a level of experience and expertise that we are excited about," Hawke said. "She is a known recruiter and has a passion for the Auburn swim team that will transcend both men's and women's programs."
This will be Christianson's second stint in a coaching role for the Tigers. She served as an assistant during the 2004-05 season after completing her eligibility, helping the Auburn men to their fifth NCAA title and guiding both the men's and women's programs to SEC titles.
"I've loved Auburn since the day I stepped foot on campus on my recruiting trip," Christianson said. "I'm honored and grateful for the opportunity to come back to a place that I love dearly. I'm grateful to Brett and the rest of the coaching staff for the chance to be back at Auburn, and I look forward to helping the men's and women's teams continue be two of the best swimming programs in the nation."
Prior to her three years at Arizona State, she served as an assistant at Louisville for one year, helping the Cardinals to what was, at the time, their best NCAA Championship finish. After finishing her swimming career, she spent two seasons as a top assistant at Maryland, working with several Olympic Trials qualifiers and ACC finalists.
Christianson was part of three national championship teams as a swimmer at Auburn, helping the Tiger women to NCAA titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004. She was the 2003 World University Games champion in the 100 butterfly, and she was the captain of Team USA at the 2005 World University Games, where she won bronze in the 100 fly. In 2004, she placed third at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 fly.
She won four individual SEC titles in her Auburn career, including the 2002 crown in the 100 butterfly and three relay titles. She also helped the Tigers to SEC team titles in 2003 and 2004. Christianson was a four-time All-American in both the 100 and 200 fly and earned seven more honors as part of medley relay teams.
A native of Gillette, Wyo., Christianson graduated from Auburn in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in criminology.
INFORMATION SOURCE: Auburn Athletics
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