Oct. 15, 2010

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Director of Athletics Tracy Huth announced that OLY SWIMMING made a generous $30,000 donation towards the Oakland University swimming and diving program. The donation will be used towards purchasing a new video board in the OU Aquatics Center.

"Basically, OLY was started by OU over 40 years ago by Corey (Van Fleet)," said Jeff Cooper, head coach of OLY Swimming. "So we have always had a really tight relationship with the athletic department. A lot of former OLY coaches now work within the athletic department. It's just always been a fabulous community relationship Oakland has had with OLY. We have always fostered that and have felt like part of the Oakland family.

"Whenever possible, we try to help the school out and this was one more thing we could do. This project was one in which we were in a good financial situation to do it and it is one that we obviously will receive benefits as well. It's a win-win for both groups involved."

The new video board should be in place sometime during this season.

"We are very fortunate to have a strong relationship with OLY," said Huth. "We thank them for their continued support of the athletic department and swimming programs. Without community support such as theirs, Oakland could not provide the type of facilities and programmatic support that our student-athletes need to compete at the national level. I want to personally thank Jeff Cooper and Trish Liddiard for their commitment in making this gift a reality."

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