Navy Announces a Pair of Coaching Hires

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, August 13. NAVY men’s swimming head coach Bill Roberts announced today the hiring of Mark Liscinsky as an assistant coach with the program for the 2013-14 season.

“We are ecstatic to welcome Mark and his family to the Naval Academy,” said Roberts. “He is eager to get going as we look forward to seeing Mark put his own stamp on the success of the program similar to his predecessor, Chris Maiello (now the head coach at North Dakota).”

“I am extremely excited to join the Navy swimming staff! The unique task of recruiting well-rounded student athletes that will compete for the Academy and continue on to serve our country will be an honor. I’m focused on continuing the Navy swimming traditions and adding my knowledge and experience to help the men’s team climb to the national level. I’d like to thank Coach Roberts and the team for giving me this opportunity,” said Liscinsky.

Liscinsky spent the last seven seasons as the head assistant coach for the American University men’s and women’s teams. Serving as the sprint group coach for the overall program, his swimmers combined to set seven school records and win four event titles at Patriot League Championship meets under his guidance.

In addition to his duties at the school, Liscinsky also served as the head coach of the Washington Golf and Country Club team for six summers (2007-12). His teams won a trio of (Washington, D.C.) Country Club Swim & Dive Association titles — 2009 (undefeated record, first title in 50 years), 2010 (undefeated record) and 2012 — and placed second once over his last four seasons.

A 2004 graduate of American himself, Liscinsky was a highly decorated swimmer in his own right. He set school records in five events — four of which remain program records — was tabbed as the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year in 2000 and as the Patriot League Swimmer of the Year in 2002 and 2003. Liscinsky totaled 10 CAA Championship meet event titles (five individual event, five relay event) as a freshman and sophomore before adding 12 Patriot League Championship meet titles (six individual event, six relay event) as a junior and senior. A versatile swimmer, he accrued victories in five different individual events and in five different relay events. Additionally, despite competing in the Patriot League for only two seasons, his 12 titles ranked fourth in league history at the end of his career and, a decade later, still ranks sixth all time.

On the national stage, Liscinsky competed in the NCAA Championship Meet as a senior, was a finalist in multiple events at the U.S. Senior Nationals, qualified for three U.S. Olympic Team Trials and was a member of the U.S. team that took part in the 2003 World University Games.

Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced today the hiring of Rich MacDonald as Navy’s new head men’s and women’s diving coach.

“We welcome one of the finest diving coaches in collegiate athletics to the Academy family,” said Gladchuk. “We are extremely impressed with Rich and his accomplishments at a number of prior institutions. He brings a wealth of experience, professionalism, energy and passion to two very important programs with the Naval Academy Athletic Association. The future remains bright for Navy diving.”

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious and successful institution,” said MacDonald. “Christie (the former Chris Icenhower) and I are exited to get started on our next chapter. It will be difficult to fill the enormous shoes (retiring diving coach) Joe Suriano left behind. I know that I have his support and it will be great to have his wisdom to lean on from time to time. I look forward to working with the Navy family and helping (women’s swimming head coach) John Morrison and (men’s swimming head coach) Bill Roberts continue the history and success of the two programs.”

MacDonald arrives at Navy after having served as the head diving coach at Virginia for the past four seasons. One of his divers advanced to the NCAA Championship in each of the last two seasons. Briggy Imbriglia placed 13th on the platform at the 2012 national championship while J.B. Kolod placed 12th on the three meter — the highest finish in an event by a Virginia diver at the meet in school history — in 2013. The two are the lone Virginia divers to have earned NCAA All-America recognition.

Additionally, a minimum of three Virginia divers qualified for the NCAA Zone Championship meet in each of his four years, with all nine of his divers advancing to the 2013 event. Virginia swept the men’s and women’s Atlantic Coast Conference swimming and diving team titles and recorded a combined seven top-20 showings in the final team standings at the respective NCAA Championship meets during MacDonald’s four-year stint.

A 1997 graduate of Rhode Island, MacDonald began serving as the diving coach at his alma mater immediately upon his graduating from the school. He would coach a pair of conference champions and three NCAA Zone Championship meet qualifiers in his three seasons at Rhode Island.

MacDonald then became the first full-time diving coach in East Carolina history when he accepted the position in 2000. He guided at least one diver to the NCAA Zone Championship meet in all but one of his nine seasons at the school.

In addition to his 16 years of coaching on the collegiate level, MacDonald has also spent considerable time coaching on the club level. This includes six years at the Fort Washington Swim Club in his hometown of Fort Washington, Pa., nine years at the Emerald City Dive Club in Greenville, N.C., and four years as the founder, owner and head coach of the Wahoo Diving Club in Charlottesville, Va.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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