Jake Shellenberger

Believer. Husband. Father. Head Swimming & Diving Coach at Liberty University. Writer. Biohacker. Entrepreneur. Trade the financial markets on the side.

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

I know what you might think - but no, l don’t share this to brag or boast. I share it to highlight two things: 1. The incredible student-athlete experience here @libertydiveswim and how thankful/grateful we are to be here at LU. When high-level, top-100 recruits commit to Liberty and people ask “Why Liberty? Who’s that? Why would top recruits go there? Are they even a DI program?”..... Here’s just one more of myriad examples. You CAN have a big-time SEC/B1G/ACC experience (or bigger) - You can fly private��� AND do so at a distinctly Christian University. 2. Let’s all celebrate women in sport and just how far we’ve come in terms of Title IX and gender equity. If you told the early club sports pioneers fighting for women’s opportunities in college athletics....told them that someday women would fly private straight from Lynchburg, VA to Atlanta, GA and GT for the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship Meet...would they believe you? My how far we’ve come!! Footballers fly charter to nearly every away game - and rightly so...that said, I’m grateful for those early fighters that paved the way for us. I’m thankful to coach at an institution that sees the value in women’s athletics, and Olympic sports at that, and allowed us the opportunity to experience what those football players do on a regular basis. I do believe we can all agree that is a WIN for WOMEN’S athletics everywhere. ...
....And with that, SCY year 16 of
program history comes to an end. Congrats to Kamryn, Aly, and Shannon on a fantastic season and for our highest ever number of individual NCAA qualifiers!!

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

Power!

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

With June 15th around the corner, there will be those that still wonder…

“Why would top recruits ever consider Liberty?”

👀👀🔥🔥

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

Perception is reality, of course. Few see Liberty as a Big-Time program. And I wouldn’t expect the average recruit, club coach, parent, or swim fan to do this level of research. No worries. But with all due respect…I would kindly ask them…if we aren’t a Big-Time program, what does it say about this list? @swimswamnews @SwimmingWorld @kylesockwell

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

The level of epic is off the charts. https://t.co/n7aGTghQM7 @usnavyband @USNavy

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

If Dems truly wanted to win more elections, they would give up this fight. It’s over. @billmaher and @stephenasmith need to talk some sense into the left. And no - those of us who stood up in support of truth were not on the wrong side of history.

[The Vigilant Fox 🦊 @VigilantFox]

Watch Stephen A. Smith win over Bill Maher’s audience with a brutal response to the Olympics banning trans athletes from women’s sports.

MAHER: “I imagine this is going to be… another [issue] where you can make Democrats die on the hill that they died on last time.”

SMITH: “If it’s an issue within the Democratic Party, that’s their own damn problem.”

“Biological men should not be competing against biological girls in sports, PERIOD.”

“I don’t want to get in the way of anybody’s civil rights, civil liberties, or anything like that. But what about protecting the young ladies? Young ladies going up against men, you know, biological men. There is no excuse for that.”

“And by the way… Lia Thomas (the swimmer) was ranked over 400th in the world.”

“And then he became a she… and NUMBER ONE!”

“Well, damn it. Does it really take an Einstein to realize that there’s something wrong with that picture?!”

[Bill Maher and the room break out in laughter]

“I mean, are we kidding ourselves?!”

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

Before the @swimswamnews coaching carousel rumors start up again - no, of course I am not leaving Liberty. We know this. We knew this. Fortunate to have a priceless opportunity here. With all due respect, nowhere else compares, and it’s not even remotely close. @Braden_Keith

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

This.

[Meg Brock @MegEBrock]

“Common sense is not transphobic.”

Listen beyond the first 20 seconds to hear Bob Costas drop an arsenal of truth bombs on why men should not be in women’s sports.

For the record, no one should affirm any lies of transgenderism. He’s so close!

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

This. Refreshing to hear!

[Joe Gaither @JoeGaither6]

Nate Oats on his contract:

"When my salary goes up a half million dollars every year -- you know how long it took me to make a half million dollars at Romulus? I got paid 4,700 a year to coach basketball for 11 years."

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

A great moment for women’s athletics - though it’s wild it had to come to this. That said, many coaches stood firm against the tide. We knew we were on the right side of history, and we didn’t back down in the face of shifting trends. This shouldn’t have been political. It didn’t need to be. Thankfully sanity prevailed.

[IOC MEDIA @iocmedia]

The International Olympic Committee announces new Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport.

Read: https://t.co/QcU5IVxyTi

[Liberty Swimming & Diving @LibertyDiveSwim]

Shannon Icard finishes 34th on platform, the 1st diver in program history to compete at NCAA's!

#RiseWithUs

[Liberty Swimming & Diving @LibertyDiveSwim]

Historic day at NCAA's!

🏟️ McAuley Aquatic Center | Atlanta, Ga.
🕙 10 AM ET Swim Prelims | 12:30 PM ET Dive Prelims
📺 (swim) https://t.co/JuCSwHFvs5 | ESPN+
📺 (dive) https://t.co/Cek7OpN01C | ESPN+
📊 (swim) https://t.co/ZYI2QJtRbN
📊 (dive) https://t.co/ddBA2MQMY8

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

LET’S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Liberty Swimming & Diving @LibertyDiveSwim]

Making history 🎟️
Shannon Icard places fifth on platform at Zones, becoming the first Liberty diver to qualify for NCAA Nationals!
#RiseWithUs

[Liberty Swimming & Diving @LibertyDiveSwim]

Day 1 at Zones! One-meter

🏟️ LeJeune Hall | Annapolis, Md.
🕞 3:15 PM (Prelim B - Shannon Icard)
📺 https://t.co/x0DzvAbk8e | Facebook Live
📊 https://t.co/RWIamVzumO

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

As a former Big Ten guy I love to compare where our relays would finish in the B1G every year…our 400 medley this year might surprise some folks! But….if you know, you know. Nothing surprising about it. We’ve been doing this here at Liberty for almost 20 years now. Same relays, different day. Faster than Power 4 programs every year since we started in 2010-2011. No mid-major mentality here - we believe 100% we are a P4 program…and we have the results - 16 years worth - on which to rest our case. Go Flames!

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

@herald0fwoe @shortmagsmle https://t.co/1pAKLf3ggk

[Liberty Swimming & Diving @LibertyDiveSwim]

Kam and Aly are headed to Georgia 🎟️🏆

📰 https://t.co/bVxeGlH7H1

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

@grey4626 Roissy in DC?

[Jake Shellenberger @JakeShell]

Just throwing it out there as a reminder - we didn’t need the auto bid.

[Liberty Swimming & Diving @LibertyDiveSwim]

Recognition earned 🏆

Aly: Most Outstanding Swimmer
Gwyn: Freshman Swimmer of the Year