Coach Withus is in her 26th season at the helm of the Old Dominion men's and women's swimming and diving programs. She remains one of a very small handful of women in the nation who coach both the men's and women's programs on the Division I level.
Withus earned her sixth conference coach of the year honor in 2018, earned Co-Head Coach of the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) after leading the men's team to a second place finish. She also guided freshman Parker Harp to CCSA Rookie of the Year honors.
Withus also guided junior Ashley Brem to a Conference USA title in the 100 breaststroke, Brem became the first ODU female to win a swimming event at the C-USA Championships.
During the 2015-16 season, Withus helped Monarch senior Reed Mathews (Denver, CO.) finish 17th in the nation in the 200 Butterfly at both the NCAA Championships and the US Olympic Trials. Mathews set new school records in both the 100 and 200 fly under Withus’ direction.
In the 2014-15 season, Withus led the Monarch men's squad to a second place finish at the Conference USA Championships and was named C-USA Coach of the Year.
The 2013-14 season saw Withus help Sidni Hoxha to three Conference USA first place finishes and a berth in the NCAA Championships, his second consecutive NCAA appearance.
During 2012-13, Withus helped men’s swimmer Sidni Hoxha earn CAA Swimmer of the Year. Under her guidance, Hoxha qualified for the NCAA Championships where he competed in the 50 and 100 free.
At the 2013 CAA Championships, Withus’ squad set an astonishing 15 school records and won 13 medals. Lady Monarch Kimberley Rashleigh secured six gold medals while Hoxha was named Co-Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet. Outside the pool, Withus’ Lady Monarchs achieved Scholar All American status for the Fall 2012 semester.
Withus has earned conference Coach of the Year laurels six times; 2018, 2015, 2008, 2006 (men and women) and 1998. She was named CAA Coach of the Year four times, including garnering the award in the 2006 season on the men's side. She guided the 1997-98 men's team to a perfect 12-0 record and it's first ever CAA Championship. The men's squad in 2008 also capped off a perfect season with a 10-0 record.
During Coach Withus’ tenure at ODU, eight athletes have qualified for the NCAA Championships. Four swimmers have competed for their respective countries at the Olympics – Sidni Hoxha (Albania - 2016, 2012, 2008), Arni Arnason (Iceland – 2012, 2008), Erla Haraldsdottir (Iceland – 2008) and Khemo Rivera (St. Croix – 2000).
Withus has also coached the most prolific swimmer in CAA history, Mary Kay Bolduc, who became the first athlete (male or female) to win four CAA Swimmer of the Year honors (1995-99). Former Lady Monarch, Kara Fichthorn won the same title during her tenure (1999-03) with the team, giving Old Dominion and Withus the honor of having the CAA's best female swimmer in five of nine years.
In 2009 Withus coached the CAA Men's Swimmer and Rookie of the Year and 2008 Icelandic Olympian in Arni Arnason. Arnason was chosen as the 2011 CAA Men's Swimmer of the Year and the 2011 CAA Championship's Most Outstanding Swimmer. In 2012, Arnason swam the 50-meter freestyle for Iceland in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Withus has also coached another two-time Olympian in ODU swimming alumni, Sidni Hoxha. Hoxha swam the 50 freestyle for his native country, Albania, in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2010, Hoxha was named the CAA Rookie of the Year and two years later he competed in the 2012 London Olympic Games in the 100 freestyle.
Academically the Monarchs have earned CSCAA All-Academic team awards for the past three years. In 2015 Mackenzie Payment (Powder Springs, GA.) was awarded the Wilkins-Howard Scholar-Athlete award with the highest GPA of all graduating senior athletes with a 3.94 in mechanical engineering. This was the seventh time one of Withus’ swimmers has garnered the award. Payment also earned C-USA Swimming Scholar-Athlete of the Year her senior season.
Before beginning her career at Old Dominion, Withus was the head women’s coach at New York University, where she compiled a 55-12 record. She coached eight NCAA All-Americans and was named Metropolitan Conference Coach of the Year twice. Her 1992 squad finished runners-up in the Metropolitan Conference Championships with a 10-1 record during her final year at NYU.
Withus is a native of North White Plains, NY. She graduated from Adelphi University in 1985 with a degree in physical education. She earned her masters degree at Ohio University in 1986 with a degree in athletic administration.
Carol and her family currently reside in Norfolk. She has two daughters, Caroline (17) and Catherine Rose (14).