Jake Shrum joins Virginia Swimming & Diving coaching staff

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia swimming & diving head coach Todd DeSorbo announced the addition of Jake Shrum to the staff as an assistant coach on Tuesday.

“The synergy of our staff is important to me, and the staff has been integral in our success the last five seasons,” Desorbo said. “Jake will fit right in and help continue our drive for excellence. He was widely successful at Towson and the fact that he as head coaching experience at the mid-major level is invaluable. I started my coaching career at the mid-major level, in the same conference as Towson, and know that the experience gained at that level is a catalyst for success long term. Better yet, Jake is a great person and I’m looking forward to sharing the pool deck as well as many laughs. Beyond that, Jake is a UVA alum, he has already battled for the Hoos and I’m happy to welcome him home!”

Shrum, a 2008 graduate of Virginia, has spent the last six seasons as the head swimming and diving coach at Towson. He has consistently elevated both the men’s and women’s programs during his tenure. In 2021-22, Shrum coached Brian Benzing to honorable mention All-America honors with a 13th-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships.

In 2020-21, he saw the men’s team capture its first-ever CAA Championship, dominating the field by over 200 points, and the women’s program finished third at the CAA Championships for a sixth-straight season. Shrum was tapped as the CAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year, rookie sensation Benzing was named both Most Outstanding Performer at the meet and was the CAA’s Swimmer of the Year.

The 2019-20 season saw numerous student-athletes win accolades and multiple school records fell. Shrum coached Jack Saunderson to All-America honors in 2018, as well as the program’s first CAA Rookie Swimmer of the Year award in 2016. Shrum served as acting head coach for the 2015-16 season, when the Tigers set a combined 12 school records. Emily Wilson earned 2016 CAA Women’s Rookie Diver of the Year honors, becoming the first Tiger in program history to earn that award. A total of 11 members of the women’s swimming and diving program earned All-CAA accolades at the CAA Championship.

Shrum joined the Tiger staff in May of 2015 as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs. Prior to his time at Towson, he served as a volunteer assistant at Virginia. During that time the women’s team improved from an 11th-place finish in his first year to a fifth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Championships. They also captured two Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championships. The men’s team saw nine student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships and finish 26th-overall.

Shrum spent six seasons as head coach at Albermarle High School. He was responsible for the overall development and organization of the program, as well as the formation of the school’s diving team. He led the men’s team to three regional and five district championships, as well as a top finish of eighth place at the Virginia State Championships. The women’s team won one regional and two district championships and had a top finish of sixth place at the State Championships. In 2013, he was named Central Virginia High School Swimming Coach of the Year.

Shrum earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Virginia in 2008. As a student-athlete, he was a four-time varsity letter winner and was a member of three ACC Championship teams.