Coaching chances aren't ever easy and once new women's swimming coach Kristy Castillo takes over the program, she will be dealing with the added difficulty taking over a program that hasn't seen much change in the last 30 years.
Castillo was announced as the next Ball State women's swimming and diving coach Monday in a news release, replacing now retired coach Laura Seibold-Caudill after 33 years.
She moves to the new position on July 1 after being an assistant coach at Akron since 2003.
Castillo said she understands the type of task she has in replacing someone who has contributed so much to the Ball State program and community.
"It's going to be tough," Castillo said. "[Those are] some big shoes to fill. Laura has done a phenomenal job with the program at this point. It's definitely going to be some big shoes to fill but that's another reason that attracted me to the position, her passion for coaching, for the team and Ball State athletics. I want to carry that on and continue that tradition that she's laid down."
She said Seibold-Caudill was involved with the search process and called her after she was hired to congratulate her.
"She's very excited and very warm in letting out a hand and wanting to be there for support," Castillo said. "It's very nice to have that support and that encouragement."
While the new coach said she hadn't contacted each swimmer individually yet, she's confident the transition will be seamless because of Seibold-Caudill's support.
"Laura is so supportive and I think that's really great because the team knows that she's supportive of what I'm doing," Castillo said. "I think they're excited and ready for the next step and they're mind set is ready to go."
No matter what the new challenge of her first head coaching position along with replacing Seibold-Caudill is something that she looks forward to.
"I love a challenge," Castillo said. "I love being pushed. I think that change is good. I think that the fact that she's so supportive and the team is ready and excited for me to come into this role. I think it shows the type of people and maturity that the student-athletes have."
Being able to stay in her comfort zone is something she thinks is going to ease the transition. Before her coaching role with Akron, she was a swimmer for the program.
Castillo will be taking over a team that embodies the student athlete goals that athletic director Bill Scholl said he would be expecting from the rest of Ball State athletics.
Seibold-Caudill's team led the nation in GPA for the Spring Semester after being named to the Spring 2011 Scholar All-America Team by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.
Castilo said that tradition and Scholl's attitude toward the student was a big reason why she was attracted to the Ball State position.
"I really am attracted to Bill's passion for the student-athlete," she said. "I think we share that and the fact that we are trying to developing student-athlete's as a whole person and wanting them to have a good experience."
Efforts to keep grades up and win at the same time shouldn't be a problem. Castillo said she plans to recruit athlete's who can do it in the classroom without sacrificing winning.
"I want to take the program to the top of the MAC," she said. "Ultimately, I'm not recruiting athletes to be at the bottom of the MAC. I am going to be recruiting athletes that want to win."
While that may be a tough task for a new coach right away, Castillo has already showed she was intimidated by the process.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous at times but I was confident about it," she said.
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