Houston's Taylor Earns Swimming National Award

University of Houston head swimming coach Mark Taylor recently was among a handful of NCAA coaches who received national awards.

Taylor, who will be entering his second season at the helm of the Cougar program in 2003-04, was one of 27 NCAA coaches who received a 2003 Award of Excellence. He collected his honor Saturday during the American Swimming Coaches Association World Clinic in San Diego, Calif.

The award recognizes coaches whose student-athletes perform at the highest level, both academically and in competition.

While flattered by the award, Taylor was quick to share the praise with his UH coaching partner, diving coach Jane Figueiredo.

"I would never have received this award without the work of Jane Figueiredo and her diving program," Taylor said. "It's nice to be recognized at the top of your sport."

In the water, the Cougars earned a 20th-place finish at the 2003 NCAA Championships. It was the best showing by a Cougar team since the 1985-86 team.

Individually, diver Yulia Pakhalina swept the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard national championships for the second time in the last three years, while redshirt freshman Azul Almazan finished 16th on the 3-meter board in her first NCAA postseason event.

However, the Cougar team also excelled in the classroom. With a 3.25 team grade point average, UH ranked 33rd nationally by the College Swimming Coaches of America and were honored as a 2003 Academic All-America Team.

Among all swimming and diving programs at any level of NCAA and NAIA competition, the Cougars ranked 103rd nationally with that GPA.

Pakhalina received the Conference USA Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, presented to the top student-athlete in each conference-sponsored sport and based on academic achievement, athletics accomplishments and service.

In addition, nine Cougar student-athletes were named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.0 GPA or better with Stacey Williams maintaining a 3.75 GPA on the way to receiving the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.