Kristy O'Brien to Return to Hawk Swimming
Brian Savard, Sports Information Director
7/22/2010 5:05:57 PM
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Kristy O’Brien will return as an assistant swimming coach at the State University of New York at New Paltz for the 2010-11 season, as announced by the Department of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation.
O’Brien will be in charge of recruiting swimmers in a local area that extends as far north as Albany and as far west as Syracuse in addition to her duties on the deck. She will continue to work with the middle-distance freestylers and backstrokers. Last season, New Paltz’s backstrokers reigned supreme, winning both the men’s and women’s 100 and 200 backstroke events at the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championships.
“I’m extremely excited to have Kristy back for a second season,” head swimming coach Scott Whitbeck said. “She has proven to be a remarkable teacher, and I am looking forward to seeing her continue to grow as a recruiter.”
O’Brien, a New Paltz, N.Y., native, spent four years on the SUNY Oneonta swimming team from 2005-09. While competing for the Red Dragons, she twice earned a spot on the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) All-Academic Team (spring 2008 and spring 2009). From the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2006, she served as the squad’s representative to Oneonta’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
“I am really excited to be returning for the 2010-11 season,” O’Brien said. “Going into my second year of coaching, I will be even more involved in recruiting and working with our middle distance freestylers and backstrokers. I'm looking forward to seeing all of our swimmers improve and am confident that we will be sending some swimmers to nationals this year.”
She obtained her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Oneonta in 2005 and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in school counseling at New Paltz.