STORRS, Conn. – With the 2016 fall semester set to begin in less than a week, UConn swimming coach Bob Goldberg announced the hiring of Priscilla Barletta to the Huskies’ coaching staff on Tuesday.
Barletta, who boasts extensive coaching experience at the high school and club levels and competed for four years at Lehigh University (2008-12) as a student-athlete, joins the Connecticut swimming and diving team as an assistant coach. At UConn, she will assist with all swimming coaching activities, with a focus on sprinters. Additionally, Barletta will help in recruiting and assist in home meet prep.
“We’re extremely excited to welcome Priscilla to our staff,” said Goldberg. “She has a great background as a competitor and a coach and will be an asset to our program. We believe she will be a great role model for our women’s team.”
A 2011-12 team captain for the Mountain Hawks, Barletta earned four varsity letters during her tenure in Bethlehem, Pa., earning Freshman Swimmer of the Year honors in 2009. She holds the school-record in the 200-free, completing the race in 1:52.81 seconds.
“I’m grateful to join the staff here at UConn,” said Barletta. “This is a great chance for me to join the college coaching ranks and I’m excited to work with high-quality student-athletes at a well-established program. We’re ready to get to work and continue to strive for a conference championship.”
Barletta began her coaching career as the head swim coach for the Crestview Club in New Providence, N.J., managing a swim team program for 150 children between the ages of 5-18. In 2013, she joined the staff at New Providence High School as the head swim coach, directing the program in practices, meets and conditioning. The New Jersey native was tabbed as the 2016 Coach of the Year by the school.
Additionally, she spent three years as the assistant swimming coach at Somerset Hills YMCA in Basking Ridge, N.J., assisting over 200 swimmers in competitive activities.
Out of the pool, Barletta also boasts coaching experience as an assistant coaching for the New Providence High track and field team as well as the JV tennis coach.
Barletta graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lehigh in 2012 and earned her master’s in exercise science and physical education from Montclair State in 2016.
Barletta and the Huskies kick off the 2016-17 season on Oct. 15 when they welcome Keene State and Bridgeport to Storrs for a 1 p.m. meet.