The TAC Titans of the Triangle Aquatic Center in North Carolina has hired Bruce Marchionda as their new head coach, where he’ll work with associate head coach John Payne and lead a staff of 5 full-time and 6 part-time coaches.
Bruce Marchionda will take over as the new head coach of the TAC Titans on August 1.
Marchionda is best-known as the former head coach of at Western Kentucky University, where among others he guided 2012 U.S. Olympian Claire Donahue from anonymity in high school to one of the top sprint butterfliers in the United States.
Marchionda’s time in Bowling Green did not end well; the men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs were suspended for 5 years, leaving him out of a job, after allegations by a former member of the team of hazing. In a letter at the time, Marchionda said that the “investigation brought to light problems within our program that are disappointing and clearly unacceptble,” but defended his own actions in disciplining swimmers who were out of line with the program’s and university’s codes of conduct.
Since leaving Western Kentucky, Marchionda and Donahue have found a new home with the South Florida Aquatic Club (SOFLO), where Marchionda has been serving on the coaching staff and Donahue has been training with their post-grad group that includes Megan Romano and 2012 Olympic finalist Alia Atkinson.
“The Triangle Aquatic Center is a place where I can put my skills and experience to work in an area directly related to student-athlete development. With an individual approach to training, I look forward to leading an experienced and talented team of coaches to develop each athlete to their greatest individual potential,” said Bruce Marchionda.
Both Marchionda and Payne have a great deal of experience and tremendous success developing age group swimmers all the way through Gold Medal Olympians in the 2012 London Olympics. “Bruce is not only a great person, but a great coach that developed me from being a good swimmer to an Olympian,” said Gold Medal Olympian Claire Donahue.
John Payne, the associate head coach of the TAC Titans
Raleigh native and Gold Medal Olympian Charlie Houchin stated that, “John Payne’s coaching style that focuses on the individual needs of each swimmer allowed me to perform at my highest level.”
Marchionda brings a rich resume that includes being a member of the U.S. coaching staff at the 2013 World Championships, 13 years of coaching experience at Western Kentucky, and 9 years of coaching experience at Clemson.
Marchionda will be joining the team on August 1st in preparation for the new season that starts September 1st. He is replacing Raz Cuparencu, a former national finalist for the Fitter & Faster Age Group Coach of the Year. The club has produced many NCAA Division I swimmers, including recently Hannah Moore, who swam for Team USA at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games before initially committing to Michigan and then transferring to North Carolina State.
Bruce is the best fly coach I’ve ever had! Brilliant man, amazing coach, and very motivational. He pushed me to be the best version of myself while also having fun with it. I’m very jeanlous of the lucky swimmers who get to experience his coaching. You truly are getting the best!
Bruce was my favorite coach I have EVER had! You can go to him with anything and he makes every day enjoyable while still working you hard. I am thrilled for him and his new team! Congrats Bruce!
Congrats Coach Bruce. great coach and person. Best of luck to you
Great coach even better person, wishing him and TAC all the best moving forward.
Congrats Bruce! Best of luck
Best of Luck to you Bruce!
Hopefully he’ll last longer than previous head coaches have at TAC. The facility management is hard to deal with, despite the success of the program. It was disappointing the way they let Raz go, but hopefully Bruce can continue to lead that program in the great direction it was already heading!
Yeah Bruce!!