Joel Rollings Named First Head Women's Swimming Coach

The Marquette University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has named Joel Rollings as its first women's swimming head coach, Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Broeker announced Monday morning.

Marquette announced the addition of women's swimming as the university's 17^th varsity sport this past May and will begin team competition in 2026-27.

"We are thrilled to welcome Joel as the first head coach of Marquette women's swimming," Broeker said. "He rose quickly to the top of a very competitive candidate pool, and for good reason—his track record of building and growing programs speaks for itself.

"Just as importantly, he has shown a deep care for his student-athletes, investing in their growth as people through the sport they love," Broeker added. "We are equally excited to welcome his wife Lauri and their son Sam into the Marquette community as we begin this exciting new chapter together."

Rollings arrives at Marquette after serving for the past two seasons as head swimming and diving coach at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), where he oversaw the establishment of both the men's and women's programs for the Raiders. The program was recognized as one of the most improved in NCAA Division III in 2024-25 and Rollings was named the Liberal Arts Conference Men's Coach of the Year.

"I am incredibly grateful to Athletic Director Mike Broeker and Senior Woman Administrator Danielle Josetti for the opportunity to establish Marquette's inaugural women's swimming program," Rollings said. "It's an honor to be a part of Marquette's rich athletic legacy and contribute to its continued growth and success."

Over the past 20 years, Rollings has worked with athletes at all levels, including student-athletes who went on to become Olympic Trials qualifiers.

Prior to MSOE, his most recent collegiate stop was at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2018-19), which came on the heels of a 12-year tenure at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (2006-2018). While with the Warhawks, Rollings coached two NCAA champions, 56 WIAC champions, 13 individual All-Americans, three All-American relay teams, and saw his teams break 92 school records. UWW's Amy Spaay was the NCAA champion and record holder in the 100-yard breaststroke in 2013 and also claimed the 200-yard breaststroke title at the national meet that season.

He earned WIAC men's swimming and diving coach of the year three different times (2008-09, 2012-13, 2014-15) and claimed the same honor on the women's side twice (2014-15, 2017-18).

Rollings was a student-athlete at Milwaukee (1991-93) and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 1995 and his master's in liberal arts from Texas Christian University in 1998. While at TCU, he served as a graduate assistant coach with the men's team, primarily working with the sprinters, as well as a 1998 World Open Water medalist.

Rollings and his wife, Lauri, and their son, Sam, reside in Whitefish Bay. His father, Dr. Harry Rollings, was a professor at MU from 1973-80 in the psychology department, teaching industrial and organizational psychology and human factors engineering.

Marquette's program will compete in the BIG EAST Conference Championships but will not feature a diving program. Nearly 200 NCAA Division I institutions (over 5,000 student-athletes) sponsor women's swimming, including fellow league members Butler, UConn, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier, and rosters feature as many as 30 student-athletes.

Joel Rollings Named First Head Women's Swimming Coach

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