BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-Western Kentucky University swimming and diving head coach Bruce Marchionda has been named an assistant for the U.S. women's team during the 2012 Short Course World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, on December 12-16, as announced by USA Swimming this week.

"To be a part of that staff is just a big honor to direct them, guide them into this big competition which only takes place every other year," said Marchionda. "We are going to be after some world records at that particular meet for short course meters, American records for short course meter and obviously trying to kind of come off that excitement of the Olympics of doing so well in London and continue the medal count there.

"Just to be a part of it is phenomenal, basically not just for me, but our program. It gets our name out there a little bit more to be with the top coaches in the country. To get that kind of exposure and be a part of it just means a lot to our program."

Marchionda will join former WKU swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Claire Donahue in Istanbul.

The event in Istanbul will be the 11th FINA Short Course World Championships, an event which has been held every two years since the inaugural Championships in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 1993. The event in Istanbul will take place at the Sinan Erdem Dome, which is a multi-purpose indoor arena that is located on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey. 

WKU's swimming and diving season starts Saturday, October 13 against Delta State at 1 p.m. in Bill Powell Natatorium on WKU's campus.

For more information on USA Swimming visit USASwimming.org, and for all the latest news and information on WKU Athletics, visit WKUSports.com.