Kanne Joins Bearcats as Assistant Swimming Coach

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Sydney Kanne has been hired as the assistant coach of men's and women's swimming at Willamette University. She will assist Head Coach Brent Summers with all aspects of Willamette's swimming teams.

Most recently, Kanne was the head coach of boys' and girls' swimming at South Pasadena High School in her hometown of Pasadena, California, from January of 2018 through June of 2021. At South Pasadena, she gained quality coaching experience while working through all of the administrative requirements, training of student-athletes, and organizing the two teams for competition.

"I am very excited to be a part of the Bearcat family and to be a part of an incredible swim program," Kanne said. "I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of a program and university that work together for the success of their students, in and out of the water."

Kanne previously worked in several positions at the Gerrish Swim and Tennis Club in Pasadena, starting as a coach before becoming a supervisor and eventually taking over duties as the assistant director. She began by coaching swimmers from age eight through age 12 in 2015, and then coached swimmers from age 11 through age 17 in 2016. As a supervisor, also in 2016, she organized and led about 25 lifeguards and head guards. Kanne became the assistant director in July of 2018 and remained in the job for a year and for months. She managed the aquatic staff and developed Gerrish's disaster plan which included emergency preparations for each pool

In addition, Kanne served as the Bronze and Bronze+ groups coach for the South Pasadena Sea Tigers club team from December of 2016 through December of 2018. She coached athletes from age seven through age 13. She also filled in as a coach with the Silver, Gold, and Platinum groups when needed.

Kanne earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Whittier College in California in 2017. She graduated with a double major in Psychology and Political Science.

"I'm excited to welcome Sydney to our program and can't wait to see the impact she'll have on our student-athletes," Summers commented. "Sydney's experience as a Division III student-athlete at Whittier gives her a great background to relate to our current team. Sydney brings fantastic experience with her from being a USA Swimming club coach and a high school head coach. I'm looking forward to collaborating with Sydney on our practices, as she knows what it takes to lead a program and develop practices that will challenge our team to get better."