Dupage Policy Journal

Institutions within the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) have announced several new head coaching appointments for winter sports ahead of the 2025 season. The changes affect swimming & diving and women’s wrestling programs at three member schools.

In swimming & diving, Augustana has named Ramsey Vens as its new head coach for both the men's and women's teams. The announcement was made on June 5. Vens brings experience from coaching at collegiate, club, and high school levels. She previously served five seasons as top assistant coach at St. Ambrose, where she trained 21 NAIA All-Americans and led both teams to three consecutive Liberal Arts Conference Championships. Vens is an alumna of Augustana, graduating in 2010 after competing as a swimmer for the college.

Illinois Wesleyan University has appointed Dan Lloyd as director of its men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, effective April 15. Lloyd was previously head coach at Augustana for 11 years, during which he was named CCIW Coach of the Year five times. Under his leadership, Augustana secured six CCIW Championships in four years—achieving a women’s team title for the first time in 25 years and seeing both teams win in the same season for the first time. He coached 64 CCIW individual champions and two NCAA qualifiers while posting an 83-41 dual-meet record. Lloyd returns to Bloomington-Normal to take up his new role at IWU.

In women’s wrestling, Carthage hired Tarkyia Mensah as head coach for its Firebirds program on May 9. Mensah previously led Schreiner University’s women’s wrestling program for three seasons, guiding her teams to two SLIAC titles and a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Her athletes earned twelve national qualifier spots, two NCAA All-American honors, and fifteen Scholar All-American recognitions under her tenure. Mensah also received Regional Coach of the Year honors and was part of the SLIAC Coaching Staff of the Year twice.

"Vens brings extensive coaching experience from the collegiate, club and high school levels, including five seasons as the top assistant coach at St. Ambrose. Under her guidance at St. Ambrose, she trained 21 NAIA All-Americans and led both men's and women's teams to three consecutive Liberal Arts Conference Championships," according to Augustana officials.

"Lloyd is returning to his hometown of Bloomington-Normal to lead the IWU program," stated Illinois Wesleyan representatives.

"Mensah joins Carthage after leading the Schreiner women's wrestling program for three seasons, where her teams secured two SLIAC titles and achieved a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III National Championships," said Carthage in their announcement.