DU alumna elected to Figure Skating Hall of Fame
Michelle Kwan, the most decorated female figure skater in American history and a 2009 DU graduate, was selected to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame last month.
During her career, Kwan, 31, has claimed 43 championships. Among those were eight consecutive national titles. In 1998, she won a silver medal at the Winter Olympics. Four years later, she added a bronze medal. Under the old scoring system, Kwan earned a record-breaking 57 perfect 6.0 marks in major events.
Kwan graduated from DU with a degree in international studies. In May, she received her master’s degree in international relations from Tufts University. For the past five years, she has served as a public diplomacy envoy for the U.S. government.
Kwan will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the national championships for figure skating. The ceremony will be held at the end of the month in San Jose, Calif.
Hockey to receive more airtime
Score Media Inc. announced yesterday that it has entered into a long-term programming agreement with FOX International Sports Channels that includes at least 250 hours per year of live collegiate content and other FOX Sports and FUEL TV programming.
Given the Canadian sports fans’ love for quality ice hockey, the deal features live coverage of top-flight programs including DU, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin and the University of North Dakota.
Pioneer coaches earn national recognition
Erik Johnson, head coach of the DU women’s basketball team, and Brian Schrader, head coach of the DU swimming team, have both been recognized for their performance as coaches.
Johnson, in his fourth season with the Pioneers, was named a Mid-Major “Coach to Watch Out For” by Hoopism, a women’s college basketball blog, last month.
The blog recognized Johnson as one of the premier coaches in the region because of his 65 percent Sun Belt Conference winning percentage and his reputation as one of the top offensive coaches in the mid-major ranks. So far this season, the Pioneers are 10-8 overall.
Schrader, currently coaching his sixth season at DU, has been honored with an American Swimming Coaches Association’s Award of Excellence for 2011.
Each year, the ASCA recognizes coaches who coach a swimmer to a top-8 finish at one of several USA national-level championships.
Schrader helped coach graduated senior Grace Kittle in the NCAA Championships this past spring. Kittle placed seventh in the 200 Breaststroke, becoming DU’s first women’s Division I All-American swimmer in program history, qualifying Schrader for the award.
