By: Mitch Morelli
Steubenville, Ohio - The Franciscan Athletic Department is proud to announce that JW Beatovich has been named as the Head Women's Swimming & Diving Coach. He will become the eighth Head Coach since the NCAA Division III program began in 2011.
Coach Beatovich can be reached at JWBeatovich@franciscan.edu.
"We are blessed to have found a coach who not only brings elite technical acumen, but also a deep understanding of and commitment to Franciscan University's Christ-centered mission, said Director of Athletics
Danny Andersen '97. Coach Beatovich will represent our program and institution with the highest integrity.
He brings a wealth of technical expertise rooted in a deep background of competitive swimming and coaching at the highest levels of club competition. More importantly, Coach Beatovich is a person of character who will advance our mission of forming disciples, developing leaders, and pursuing excellence through athletics."
"I am honored to be the next Head Coach of the Franciscan University Women's Swimming & Diving. As an alumnus and employee, I owe so much to this university, and I am excited to participate in the university's mission in a new way. We have the greatest students in the world, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve them in this role. I grew up swimming, and I know the value that the sport provides individuals in and out of the pool. I firmly believe that, for the team, dedication to the sport provides an opportunity to grow into the people God has called us to be."
Beatovich is no stranger to Franciscan, as he currently works in the Marketing and Communications Department on campus as the Director of Digital Storytelling. In that role, he has worked with Franciscan Athletics on a variety of photo and video projects. He also graduated Franciscan with a degree in Communication Arts in 2012 and is currently finishing up his Master's in Business Administration. The Virginia native grew up as a competitive swimmer and coached at the club level back in Virginia before returning to Franciscan in 2022.
"I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging season, said Coach Beatovich. It looks like we will have many new faces in the pool and strong leadership from our returning athletes. This gives me encouragement, not only for this season, but for the seasons to come as we look to build an excellent, competitive, winning program and compete in the PAC. Let's go Barons!"
The Barons' 2025-26 schedule is to be released soon, as they will compete in a handful of meets this fall. They then ramp back up in January, as they prepare for the PAC Championship in February.
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