Bobby Guntoro Returns to Alma Mater to Helm UNC Wilmington Swimming

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Bobby Guntoro at the 2018 ACC Championships as an assistant for NC State Photo Courtesy: Sarah D. Davis/theACC.com

Bobby Guntoro has been hired as the head coach of UNC Wilmington’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, the school announced Thursday.

Guntoro spent eight seasons at NC State, the first two as a graduate assistant before being elevated to a full assistant coach. Guntoro worked with the men’s and women’s teams, particularly the Wolfpack’s renowned sprint and middle-distance freestyle groups. Under Guntoro’s tutelage, the Wolfpack have won six consecutive ACC men’s titles and have five straight top-10 finishes at the NCAA men’s championships, including a pair of NCAA-record-setting relays. The women’s team won ACCs in 2017 and 2019, twice finishing seventh at NCAAs.

“We are very proud of Bobby, and I am excited for him, his wife Natalie and their son Judson as they begin this new adventure,” NC State head coach Braden Holloway said in a UNCW release. “To lead a team is a great opportunity, but to lead your alma mater is that opportunity with added emotion and pride. UNCW gave Bobby his start, and it is great to see him return home. He is ready for the task and will achieve amazing new heights with the Seahawks to add to the rich history of that program. He is my dear friend and has been by my side for a long time. I am so happy for him and his family. The Seahawks could not have hired a better man for the job.”

Guntoro is just the third head coach in program history. He graduated from UNCW in 2011, swimming for Dave Allen, who founded the program and coached it for its first 37 seasons. Guntoro replaces Jason Memont, hired as Allen’s replacement in 2014.

Bobby Guntoro, a native of Jakarta who represented Indonesia internationally, set the program record in the 100 butterfly and several Seahawks relay records. UNCW won the Colonial Athletic Association title each year he was there. The reign continued in 2012 when Guntoro served as a volunteer assistant coach.

“I’m ecstatic that someone from our family is coming back to take over the program,” Allen, a UNCW Athletics Hall of Famer, said. “Bobby was an outstanding young man, both in the pool and classroom. He was dedicated to be the best he could throughout his career at UNCW. He continued to improve each year and led us to four CAA championships. Bobby’s a true winner and knows what it takes to be successful. He treats people the right way. Student-athletes will be very fortunate to swim for him. I’m very happy for him, the program and our alumni.”

“We’re excited to have Bobby return to UNCW,” athletic director Jimmy Bass said. “He was a great ambassador for our program and university when he was a student-athlete and he’s helped NC State’s programs to great heights during his time there.”

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