Former Olympic and Division I head coach Jen Buffin has been named an assistant coach for the men's and women's swimming teams at Colorado College. She will begin her duties on June 13.
Buffin joins the Tiger coaching staff with extensive international experience, including a stint as the Philippines National Team Coach during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, as well as the 2015 World Championships and Southeast Asian Games. At the SEA Games in Singapore, she guided the Philippine team to a pair of silver medals, nine bronze medals and eight national records.
"We are fortunate to have Jen join our staff as an assistant coach," head coach Anne Goodman James said. "She has extensive experience and expertise in our sport, at both the NCAA and international levels. She is committed to coaching the whole person, and we look forward to having her contribute to the development of our student-athletes as swimmers and productive positive people."
Following her tenure with the Philippine National Team, Buffin served as the head coach of the women's swimming team at Oregon State for three seasons. She led the Beavers to a school record in the 50 freestyle and multiple top 16 finishes at the PAC-12 Championships.
"I am very excited to get started and looking forward to being part of the Tiger family," Buffin said. "Anne (Goodman James) has built a strong swimming and diving program and I feel privileged to help her continue the success of current and future members of the program."
Prior to joining the Oregon State program, Buffin served as the associate head men's and women's swimming and diving coach at the University of Hawai'i for 10 years. The Rainbow Wahine and Rainbow Warriors captured two conference titles combined during her tenure.
While at Hawai'i, Buffin worked closely with Filipino swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi, who competed for the Philippines in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Alkhaldi set four national records and collected three bronze medals under Buffin's tutelage at the 2015 SEA Games.
Buffin's collegiate record includes 24 NCAA qualifiers, 102 conference champions, a two-time Olympian, and 301 first- or second-team all-league honorees. In addition, she has coached seven league MVPs, eight All-American scholars and 95 all-conference academic individuals.
Most recently, Buffin was a volunteer assistant coach for the women's swimming and diving program at the Air Force Academy (2020-21) and also coached at New Mexico State (2019-20) and San Jose State (2001-05).
Buffin earned her bachelor's degree in environmental science in 2002 from San Jose State, and a master's in kinesiology with an emphasis in coaching from Georgia Southern University in 2021.
Buffin and her partner, Tim Mckenzie, have two dogs, Ella and Heidi.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up