OXFORD — The Miami University swimming and diving programs will have a more modern look to it next year.

Miami Director of Athletics David Sayler announced that the RedHawks will combine their men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs come the 2016-17 academic year. Under the new model, the RedHawks will create a new Head Coach of Swimming and Diving position with assistant coaches responsible for coaching both men and women in their specialized event.

The combined program model is one that has been adopted at several programs over recent years, including national teams such as Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State and Tennessee and several Mid-American Conference schools including Buffalo and Eastern Michigan. Evansville, Missouri State and Southern Illinois, affiliate MAC programs in swimming and diving, also have combined programs. The model’s benefits include more specialized specific coaching and training by event, instead of by gender.

A national search for a new Head Coach of Swimming and Diving will start immediately.