WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Alex Jerden will lead Purdue Men's Swimming & Diving as the program's new head coach, it was announced Tuesday by Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mike Bobinski.
Jerden, who graduated from Purdue in 2009 and served on former head coach Dan Ross' staff since the 2019-20 season, has delivered a tremendous impact on the recruiting trail for the Old Gold & Black. Jerden has tutored several Boilers to record-breaking times and Big Ten Conference medals, setting the stage for transition as he takes over for Purdue's longtime leader in Ross, who announced his retirement last month.
"As we evaluated candidates through our search process, it became clear to us that Alex Jerden was the right person to carry on the proud tradition of Purdue Men's Swimming & Diving," Bobinski said. "Alex's work as an assistant here at Purdue under Dan Ross and his other coaching experiences have prepared him well for this opportunity. We look forward to helping support Alex's vision for success in every way possible and are excited to see what the future holds for the Boilermakers under his leadership."
Since 2019-20, Purdue has won a swimming medal at each of the last four Big Ten Championships (five total). With a relay medal in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Boilermakers enjoyed their first three-year streak at the Big Ten meet since 2001-03.
"The opportunity to lead Purdue as head coach is the highest honor of my coaching career and the responsibility I feel to the program, to the alumni and to Purdue is a privilege and joy to have," Jerden said. "Throughout most of my life, the coaches and mentors I've had and worked with in swimming have invested in me beyond measure, for which I am incredibly grateful. And so, accepting this position is an exciting amplification of the role I will have to help people as purposefully and as abundantly as I can. That I get to do this through this sport and at Purdue University with fantastic people around me is a beautiful thing."
On an individual level, Jerden has mentored notable Boiler achievements over the last two seasons, including Brady Samuels, who set two team records, three freshman records and earlier this year became the first Purdue All-American in a backstroke event since the 2005 season. Nick Sherman claimed the silver medal in the 200 IM at the Big Ten meet this season, becoming the Boilermakers' first medalist in the event since 2007.
Additionally, Samuels, Sherman and teammates Ethan Shaw, Idris Muhammad and Coleman Modglin all posted top-5 times in program history during the 2022-23 season. Samuels, Shaw, Muhammad and Modglin are slated to return to action for the 2023-24 season.
"I couldn't be prouder to pass the baton of head men's swimming & diving coach to Alex Jerden as he becomes only the fourth head coach of our program since 1939," Ross said. "Alex is smart; he's been exposed to and developed fast swimmers. But more importantly, he does it the right way – the Purdue Way. Honest, driven, fair but challenging – he's a perfect fit for the future of this program."
Before embarking on his collegiate coaching career, Jerden spent five seasons with Boilermaker Aquatics. After joining in 2019, Jerden helped grow championship participation to the highest in club history. Altogether, Jerden compiled 13 years of coaching experience ahead of when he was hired full-time at Purdue, including two seasons as a volunteer assistant with the University of Texas Men's Team. He shared recruiting duties and worked with all training groups, including All-Americans, American record holders, and NCAA record holders under the guidance of longtime head coach Eddie Reese and assistant Wyatt Collins. While Jerden was in Austin, the Longhorns finished as national runners-up at the 2019 NCAA Championships.
"The culture that Dan Ross worked to cultivate for decades has been a huge source of inspiration and drive for me in my career, and I can't thank Dan enough for his work and letting me be a part of it all," Jerden said. "As is well known on this team – Rule No. 1: Love Your Teammates. If we truly believe that and do the work for each other, a lot of fun is on the horizon! I love this team and I'm brimming with excitement at the thought of all the possibilities that we might be able to realize in the coming years.
"Finally, I would really like to thank Mike Bobinski and Ed Howat for their leadership, guidance, and confidence during my time thus far at Purdue. We are very much on the same page when it comes to cultivating excellence within a program and I'm proud to have the opportunity to work alongside a first-class support staff in group pursuit of that excellence."
Jerden lives in Lafayette with his wife, Danielle – married in December 2022 – and their two terriers.
Reaction from Current Boilermakers
"Hearing that Alex is going to be filling Dan's shoes was extremely exciting for me. I have worked very closely with him in our backstroke and IM groups and I have an idea of how he is capable of leading the program. I don't think we could've found anyone else that embodies the Boilermaker spirit better than him. His ambition is extremely contagious, he is passionate about both swimming and making Purdue student-athletes the best versions of themselves in all aspects of life. He has been integral in maintaining and even improving the team culture of love and excellence that makes Purdue Swimming great. Alex is a warrior of a coach and I cannot wait to see where he takes the program." – Andrew Swenson, Junior Backstroke
"I believe Alex is a hardworking and dedicated individual that wants nothing but the best for Purdue Men's Swim & Dive. I am excited to see what the future holds for both Alex and the team." – Idris Muhammad, Sophomore Sprint Freestyle/Backstroke
"I'm excited to get to work with Alex further because he's not only an excellent technical coach but he embodies what it means to be a Boilermaker. He's passionate about the team becoming the best we can, and I know he has the ability to lead us to greatness." – Dylan Burau, Freshman Backstroke
Jerden, who graduated from Purdue in 2009 and served on former head coach Dan Ross' staff since the 2019-20 season, has delivered a tremendous impact on the recruiting trail for the Old Gold & Black. Jerden has tutored several Boilers to record-breaking times and Big Ten Conference medals, setting the stage for transition as he takes over for Purdue's longtime leader in Ross, who announced his retirement last month.
"As we evaluated candidates through our search process, it became clear to us that Alex Jerden was the right person to carry on the proud tradition of Purdue Men's Swimming & Diving," Bobinski said. "Alex's work as an assistant here at Purdue under Dan Ross and his other coaching experiences have prepared him well for this opportunity. We look forward to helping support Alex's vision for success in every way possible and are excited to see what the future holds for the Boilermakers under his leadership."
Since 2019-20, Purdue has won a swimming medal at each of the last four Big Ten Championships (five total). With a relay medal in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Boilermakers enjoyed their first three-year streak at the Big Ten meet since 2001-03.
"The opportunity to lead Purdue as head coach is the highest honor of my coaching career and the responsibility I feel to the program, to the alumni and to Purdue is a privilege and joy to have," Jerden said. "Throughout most of my life, the coaches and mentors I've had and worked with in swimming have invested in me beyond measure, for which I am incredibly grateful. And so, accepting this position is an exciting amplification of the role I will have to help people as purposefully and as abundantly as I can. That I get to do this through this sport and at Purdue University with fantastic people around me is a beautiful thing."
On an individual level, Jerden has mentored notable Boiler achievements over the last two seasons, including Brady Samuels, who set two team records, three freshman records and earlier this year became the first Purdue All-American in a backstroke event since the 2005 season. Nick Sherman claimed the silver medal in the 200 IM at the Big Ten meet this season, becoming the Boilermakers' first medalist in the event since 2007.
Additionally, Samuels, Sherman and teammates Ethan Shaw, Idris Muhammad and Coleman Modglin all posted top-5 times in program history during the 2022-23 season. Samuels, Shaw, Muhammad and Modglin are slated to return to action for the 2023-24 season.
"I couldn't be prouder to pass the baton of head men's swimming & diving coach to Alex Jerden as he becomes only the fourth head coach of our program since 1939," Ross said. "Alex is smart; he's been exposed to and developed fast swimmers. But more importantly, he does it the right way – the Purdue Way. Honest, driven, fair but challenging – he's a perfect fit for the future of this program."
Before embarking on his collegiate coaching career, Jerden spent five seasons with Boilermaker Aquatics. After joining in 2019, Jerden helped grow championship participation to the highest in club history. Altogether, Jerden compiled 13 years of coaching experience ahead of when he was hired full-time at Purdue, including two seasons as a volunteer assistant with the University of Texas Men's Team. He shared recruiting duties and worked with all training groups, including All-Americans, American record holders, and NCAA record holders under the guidance of longtime head coach Eddie Reese and assistant Wyatt Collins. While Jerden was in Austin, the Longhorns finished as national runners-up at the 2019 NCAA Championships.
"The culture that Dan Ross worked to cultivate for decades has been a huge source of inspiration and drive for me in my career, and I can't thank Dan enough for his work and letting me be a part of it all," Jerden said. "As is well known on this team – Rule No. 1: Love Your Teammates. If we truly believe that and do the work for each other, a lot of fun is on the horizon! I love this team and I'm brimming with excitement at the thought of all the possibilities that we might be able to realize in the coming years.
"Finally, I would really like to thank Mike Bobinski and Ed Howat for their leadership, guidance, and confidence during my time thus far at Purdue. We are very much on the same page when it comes to cultivating excellence within a program and I'm proud to have the opportunity to work alongside a first-class support staff in group pursuit of that excellence."
Jerden lives in Lafayette with his wife, Danielle – married in December 2022 – and their two terriers.
Reaction from Current Boilermakers
"Hearing that Alex is going to be filling Dan's shoes was extremely exciting for me. I have worked very closely with him in our backstroke and IM groups and I have an idea of how he is capable of leading the program. I don't think we could've found anyone else that embodies the Boilermaker spirit better than him. His ambition is extremely contagious, he is passionate about both swimming and making Purdue student-athletes the best versions of themselves in all aspects of life. He has been integral in maintaining and even improving the team culture of love and excellence that makes Purdue Swimming great. Alex is a warrior of a coach and I cannot wait to see where he takes the program." – Andrew Swenson, Junior Backstroke
"I believe Alex is a hardworking and dedicated individual that wants nothing but the best for Purdue Men's Swim & Dive. I am excited to see what the future holds for both Alex and the team." – Idris Muhammad, Sophomore Sprint Freestyle/Backstroke
"I'm excited to get to work with Alex further because he's not only an excellent technical coach but he embodies what it means to be a Boilermaker. He's passionate about the team becoming the best we can, and I know he has the ability to lead us to greatness." – Dylan Burau, Freshman Backstroke