Story courtesy of William Carey sports information

Hattiesburg, Miss.- William Carey University Athletic Director DJ Pulley has announced that WCU athletics will be adding the three new intercollegiate sports to its portfolio with addition of men & women's swimming and competitive cheer.  
 
WCU men and women's swimming will be based on the Tradition campus on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and will be led by Robert Gonzalez.  
 
"I am very excited to accept the position as head swim coach at William Carey University," said Gonzalez.  "As someone who has lived in Mississippi for almost my entire life, to see the sport of swimming expanding to another collegiate program inside our state is something very personal to me. Swimming has been a huge part of my life and I am thrilled to see it grow inside Mississippi. It's important for it to be seen at the collegiate level and to allow our high school student-athletes to know the opportunity is there to continue the sport they love and have the opportunity to earn a degree at a tremendous school. There will be successes and failures, ups and downs, and challenges galore, but I look forward to meeting them with everything I have. I thank the administration for allowing me to have the opportunity and look forward to working with them collaboratively to make this a successful program." 
 
Coach Gonzalez has been associated with the swimming scene in Mississippi for the last 15 years having served as head coach at Columbus High School, Starkville High School, Rosa Fort High School, and Oxford High School. In 2020 he was named MHSAA Swim Coach of the Year, 2019 MAC Coach of the Year, and was a finalist for NFHS National Coach of the Year. Coach Gonzalez has also served as head club swim coach for the Shockwave Aquatics and the Delta Aquatic Club. While at Oxford High School, Coach Gonzalez led the Chargers to eleven Top 3 finishes and three straight runner up finishes.  
 
"I am extremely excited to find someone like Robert Gonzalez to lead our inaugural swim program," said WCU AD DJ Pulley. "His passion about swimming and collegiate swimming opportunities for young people are truly something to marvel. I am looking forward to see Coach Gonzalez hit the ground running building a national caliber swim program on the Mississippi Gulf Coast."  
 
Carey competitive cheer will be based on the Hattiesburg campus and will be led by former Oak Grove High cheer coach Laura Lightsey.  
 
"I'm excited to get back into coaching now that my children are older. The itch for coaching never goes away and the opportunity to bring my experience as both an athlete and a coach to build a competitive cheer team at William Carey University is an honor," said Lightsey. 
 
Coach Lightsey began her coaching career in 2000 at Gulfport High School before taking over at Oak Grove in 2006. Coach Lightsey led the Warriors to three state titles and a national ranking. Prior to her coaching career, Coach Lightsey has been a choreographer for cheer and dance teams at all levels. She was a varsity cheer team member at Jones College and at Ole Miss. Coach Lightsey will continue teaching at Oak Grove High while building a competitive cheer team at William Carey University. 
 
"WCU has looked at competitive cheer several times the last few years and everything just fell into place with Laura Lightsey," said Pulley. "Her vision for the program and passion for the sport just blew us all away. All of us at WCU are excited to see Coach Lightsey get started and build a successful program."
 
WCU Swim and Competitive Cheer will begin competition in the 2024-25 academic year.