COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Alicia Kemnitz has been named the swimming coach at Lindsey Wilson College, the school announced on Tuesday.

Kemnitz comes to Lindsey Wilson after serving a season as assistant coach at Lycoming (Pa.) College. Prior to Lycoming, Kemnitz was head coach at King's (Pa.) College for four years.

Kemnitz replaces Bart Garlick who resigned effective at the end of this week's NAIA National Championships.

"Coach Kemnitz is a terrific addition to our department and to Lindsey Wilson College" LWC athletics director Willis Pooler said. "Her enthusiasm for swimming and the student-athlete is infectious. She is the perfect person for our position and I'm confident that she will build a first-class swimming program while providing our student-athletes the opportunity to experience the mission of Lindsey Wilson College."

This season at Lycoming, Kemnitz helped lead the women's program to the Middle Atlantic Conference title. It was the program's first conference title in 13 seasons. She served as the team's recruiting coordinator and aided in writing, organizing and leading practices.

"The first thing that attracted me to Lindsey Wilson was the people. I could tell right away that the college is a true community that is proudly student-centered," Kemnitz said. "As a coach, these two components are extremely important to me. I wanted to work for a school that strives to educate the whole person, and Lindsey Wilson is that place.

"Lindsey Wilson's tradition of excellence in athletics is also very appealing to me as a coach. Even though swimming is a new sport, I have no doubt that the school is committed to giving me and my swimmers all the support we need to build a successful program. Now that the new facility is up and going, swimmers from all over Kentucky and surrounding states will be impressed with not only our huge, state-of-the-art pool, but also with the surrounding wellness center."

While at King's, Kemnitz led the program to 34 school records during her four seasons and coached the first three all-conference swimmers since 1998. The program also grew from two swimmers following her first season to 19 in her final season.

As a student-athlete at Hollins (Va.) University, Kemnitz was a two-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference performer.

In 2007, Kemnitz, along with another inductee, became the youngest member of the Hollins Athletics Hall of Fame.

Kemnitz is excited about the opportunities ahead with a program still in its infancy.

"I believe that starting a new program is a great opportunity for any coach.One of my main goals for incomingand potentialLWC swimmers is for them to understand that being a part of our teammeans being a part of history," Kemnitz said. "Years after they graduate,people will look back on these swimmers as the founders of Lindsey Wilson Swimming. That's no small thing. I want athletes who will look at this new program as a way to make their mark and start a tradition of excellence in swimming."