Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Abby Brethauer Joins Men’s Swimming & Diving Coaching Staff
June 10, 2021 | Men's Swimming and Diving
PRINCETON N.J. – Abby Brethauer will be joining the Princeton Men's University men's swimming & diving coaching staff as an Assistant Coach, as announced by Head Coach Matt Crispino Thursday.
"We are delighted to welcome Abby Brethauer to Princeton Swimming & Diving," said Head Coach Matt Crispino. "What an exciting time for our program! For over a decade, I have admired Abby's achievements as a coach, her drive and competitiveness, and her ability to inspire and educate young people through sport. Abby's blend of experience – including many years as a head coach – and her vast swimming knowledge will help our men's team continue to climb to new heights in the pool. More importantly, having Abby on our staff will allow us to further our mission of Education Through Athletics. Abby and I are excited to get on deck as we return to training and competition this fall."
Brethauer becomes only the second female Assistant Coach to lead a men's-only program in NCAA swimming & diving.
Brethauer, who has 18 years of intercollegiate coaching experience, joins the Tigers from Tufts University, where she served as Associate Head Coach of the men's and women's program. She made an immediate impact at Tufts, helping the men's program finish 10th nationally and the women 16th, its best finish since 1990. In 2019, Brethauer was a member of the coaching staff that received the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Women's Coaching Staff of the Year Award.
The Jumbos also had their first NCAA men's champion swimmer since 1982 (Roger Gu in the 50 freestyle) and their first NESCAC champion women's swimmer since 2014 (Amy Socha in the 200 butterfly). In the 2019-20 season, both teams were the runner-up at the conference championships. Twelve members of the women's team and 10 from the men qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships before the meet was canceled due to COVID-19.
Prior to Tufts, Brethauer served as Head Coach at Mary Washington University. She was honored as Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Women's Coach of the Year six times and Men's Coach of the Year on four occasions. At Mary Washington she also served on the Presidential Task Force for Diversity & Inclusion and was the Athletic Department's Community Service Coordinator from 2013-18.
Brethauer also served as the Assistant Women's Swimming Coach at Columbia University from July 2004 until July 2010, becoming an NCAA Women's Coaches Academy graduate in May 2009. Since 2008, Brethauer has served as Head Coach at the Bates College Swim Camp. She was also the Assistant Swimming Coach at Hamilton College from August 2002 until May 2003.
She earned a Masters of Kinesiology from Columbia University Teacher's College in 2009 and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's & Gender Studies from Kenyon College in 2002, where she was a four-year member of the women's swimming & diving team. Brethauer was a 13-time All-American and a member of three NCAA Championship teams at Kenyon, where she was also a national record holder at the NCAA DIII level. A team captain her senior year, Brethauer won the John D. Rilke Sportsmanship Award in 2002, the Molly R. Hatcher Award in Women & Gender Studies in 2000 and was on the Women's & Gender Studies Advisory Board in 2001 and 2002.
Crispino would also like to honor departing Assistant Coach Doug Lennox '09 for his contributions to the men's swimming & diving program.
"A big thank you to Doug Lennox '09 for his four years of service as our assistant coach," said Crispino. "Nobody works harder or loves Princeton University more than Doug. He has set Abby and me up for success for years to come, and we sincerely appreciate his thoughtful, energetic, and optimistic approach to coaching and life."
"We are delighted to welcome Abby Brethauer to Princeton Swimming & Diving," said Head Coach Matt Crispino. "What an exciting time for our program! For over a decade, I have admired Abby's achievements as a coach, her drive and competitiveness, and her ability to inspire and educate young people through sport. Abby's blend of experience – including many years as a head coach – and her vast swimming knowledge will help our men's team continue to climb to new heights in the pool. More importantly, having Abby on our staff will allow us to further our mission of Education Through Athletics. Abby and I are excited to get on deck as we return to training and competition this fall."
Brethauer becomes only the second female Assistant Coach to lead a men's-only program in NCAA swimming & diving.
Brethauer, who has 18 years of intercollegiate coaching experience, joins the Tigers from Tufts University, where she served as Associate Head Coach of the men's and women's program. She made an immediate impact at Tufts, helping the men's program finish 10th nationally and the women 16th, its best finish since 1990. In 2019, Brethauer was a member of the coaching staff that received the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Women's Coaching Staff of the Year Award.
The Jumbos also had their first NCAA men's champion swimmer since 1982 (Roger Gu in the 50 freestyle) and their first NESCAC champion women's swimmer since 2014 (Amy Socha in the 200 butterfly). In the 2019-20 season, both teams were the runner-up at the conference championships. Twelve members of the women's team and 10 from the men qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships before the meet was canceled due to COVID-19.
Prior to Tufts, Brethauer served as Head Coach at Mary Washington University. She was honored as Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Women's Coach of the Year six times and Men's Coach of the Year on four occasions. At Mary Washington she also served on the Presidential Task Force for Diversity & Inclusion and was the Athletic Department's Community Service Coordinator from 2013-18.
Brethauer also served as the Assistant Women's Swimming Coach at Columbia University from July 2004 until July 2010, becoming an NCAA Women's Coaches Academy graduate in May 2009. Since 2008, Brethauer has served as Head Coach at the Bates College Swim Camp. She was also the Assistant Swimming Coach at Hamilton College from August 2002 until May 2003.
She earned a Masters of Kinesiology from Columbia University Teacher's College in 2009 and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's & Gender Studies from Kenyon College in 2002, where she was a four-year member of the women's swimming & diving team. Brethauer was a 13-time All-American and a member of three NCAA Championship teams at Kenyon, where she was also a national record holder at the NCAA DIII level. A team captain her senior year, Brethauer won the John D. Rilke Sportsmanship Award in 2002, the Molly R. Hatcher Award in Women & Gender Studies in 2000 and was on the Women's & Gender Studies Advisory Board in 2001 and 2002.
Crispino would also like to honor departing Assistant Coach Doug Lennox '09 for his contributions to the men's swimming & diving program.
"A big thank you to Doug Lennox '09 for his four years of service as our assistant coach," said Crispino. "Nobody works harder or loves Princeton University more than Doug. He has set Abby and me up for success for years to come, and we sincerely appreciate his thoughtful, energetic, and optimistic approach to coaching and life."
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