HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Brandt Nigro has been named assistant swimming coach at Marshall University, as announced today by head coach Bill Tramel.
“I am very excited to have Brandt on our coaching staff,” Coach Tramel said.
“41 people applied for this job. Considering less than 10 applied the last time we had an opening, I think that speaks volumes about what we have accomplished here in four years.
Nigro joins the Thundering Herd after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC). During that time, UMBC won back-to-back America East Conference Championships. At the NCAA Championships, UMBC finished 29th on the strength of Emily Escobedo’s third place finish in the 200 Breast. Nigro is also the head senior coach of Retriever Aquatic Club.
Prior to his time in Baltimore, Nigro was an assistant coach at Wesleyan University. He has also coached the Cheshire YMCA Sea Dogs Swim Club and served as head coach of Brookfield (Conn.) High School girls swimming team, winning the South West High School Conference in 2012.
A native of Bristol, Conn., Nigro graduated with honors from the College of Charleston in 2005. At Charleston, he helped his team to a Southern States Conference Championship. Nigro was named to multiple All-Conference and All-Academic Teams. In 2009, he graduated with honors from the University of Hartford with a master’s degree and a sixth year certificate in school psychology. While in Connecticut, he worked as a state and nationally certified school psychologist.
“From the start, I was impressed with Brandt,” Coach Tramel said. I like winners, and Brandt is a winner. He was a winner when he was a collegiate swimmer. He is a winner now as a coach. He possesses the skills and most importantly, he understands what it takes to be successful in Division I swimming & diving. We expect to succeed here. In a short period of time, we have turned Marshall swimming & diving into a successful and very attractive program. Brandt will enhance that even more.”
Nigro joins a program that earned the highest finish in school history last season, finishing third at the Conference USA Championships. Marshall also achieved the fourth highest GPA in the country among Division I swimming & diving programs, as well at the highest GPA in Conference USA for the third year in a row.
“I am thrilled to become a member of the Marshall University Thundering Herd family,” Nigro said.
“I would like to thank Mike Hamrick, Beatrice Crane-Banford, and especially Bill Tramel for this opportunity. Marshall University has such a strong and proud athletic tradition. I immediately connected with Coach Tramel’s vision for the future and his commitment to excellence both in the pool and in the classroom. I look forward to working alongside Coach Tramel and with our student-athletes as we pursue our first-ever Conference USA Championship!”
Swimming news courtesy of Marshall Swimming & Diving.
Brandt is a great coach and an even better person. Marshall is very lucky to have him. Good luck!!