Harvard University

Shana Welch, a three-time All-American at Michigan, returns forher second season with the men's and women's water polo teams forthe 2010-11 season.

In her first season with the Crimson, the men's team picked upseven wins and a fifth-place finish at the Northern DivisonChampionship. Bret Voith was also tabbed to the All-NorthernDivision first team. On the women's side, Harvard began the seasonwith a six game winning streak and owned a 12-15 overall record atthe end of the year. The Crimson earned impressive wins over Brownand No. 19 Cal-State East Bay in 2010. Harvard also received anat-large berth to the Eastern Championship that same year. DevanKennifer and Monica Zdrojewski were each named to the All-NorthernDivision first team while Elise Molnar received All-NorthernDivision honorable mention.

Welch comes to Harvard after serving as the assistant coach ofmen’s and women’s swimming at Bucknell for one season.With the Bison programs, Welch was responsible for recruiting,fundraising, academic monitoring, facilitating community serviceprojects and creating dry land and strength programs. During herstint with Bucknell, Welch helped the program break 27 teamrecords.

She began her coaching career as a strength and conditioningintern at Michigan in 2008. In that position, she was responsiblefor training student-athletes to reach a higher level of strengthand athletic prowess and created strength-training routines forstudent-athletes.

Welch, one of the most honored players in Michigan water polohistory, was named to the American Water Polo Coaches Association(AWPCA) All-America team on three occasions and was a three-timeCollegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Western Division MVP. Sheserved as captain of the Wolverines in her junior and seniorseasons and was the recipient of the Michigan Athletic AcademicAchievement Award in 2006 and 2007, as well as the Bob Ufer SeniorAthlete Award in 2007. Welch was tabbed the CWPA Rookie of the Yearin 2005 and was a USA Speedo Top 40 in 2005 and 2006.  InJanuary 2010, Welch was honored on the Michigan All-Decade team,grabbing a spot on the squad as a driver.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Michigan in2007, Welch played professional water polo for the UWA Perth Cometsin Australia for one year.