Swimming & Diving



Paul Bennett

Head M/W Swimming & Diving Coach

pbennett@wpi.edu

508-831-5625

Paul Bennett was named Head Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving coach as well as Aquatics Director at WPI on August 5, 2004.  Since then the program has enjoyed success at the conference, regional and national levals.

During his first fours years on the job Bennett has coached a six-time All-American (Joel Rousseau), an NCAA participant (Jeff Meyer) and a pair of NCAA quailfers (Morgan Guardino and Mason Ruffing).  In addition, both his men's and women's team have improved within the NEWMAC.

"Paul brings many years of experience as a head coach to our program and has enjoyed a great deal of success building strong swim programs at Andover-North Andover YMCA and in age group swimming, all while developing swimmers for college programs like Dartmouth, Brown, Boston College, and Northeastern," said WPI Director of Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics Dana L. Harmon. "We are fortunate to have Paul lead our program and very much look forward to his continued success at WPI."

Since 2001, Bennett has been the head coach and assistant aquatics director of the North Andover YMCA Swim Club in North Andover, Massachusetts. While there, he was responsible for all operations for the joint YMCA/USA Competitive Swim Team. His squad was 2004 East Field Regional Champions, while developing 26 YMCA National Championship qualifiers, 6 YMCA All-Americans, and 2 USA Swimming Academic All-Americans. In addition, his women's team won the 2004 Eastern Mass. District Championships. His combined team was runner-up in the same championships in both 2003 and 2004.

From 1996 through 2001, Bennett was head coach of the Laramie (WY) Swim Club, where his teams won both summer and winter championships four years in a row (1998 to 2001). In recognition of this success, Bennett was named the 2001 American Swim Coaches National Association Age Group Coach of the Year, as well as Wyoming Coaches Association Coach of the Year in both 2000 and 2001.

Also from 1999 through 2001, he was an assistant coach at Laramie High School, where his teams won two Wyoming 4A State Titles (one men's and one women's). While there, he coached five All-Americans and six academic All-Americans.

Bennett is a graduate of the University of Wyoming in Laramie with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Social Studies Education in 2001. At Wyoming, he was also certified as an athletic trainer.

 

Laura O'Tell

Diving Coach