Rutgers swimming and diving ushered in a new era on July 7, 2010 as Phil Spiniello was named the seventh head coach of the 95-year-old program.
The squad saw great improvements throughout the year in Spiniello’s first season at the helm and was recognized as No. 1 in the nation in improvement on the week of Jan. 26, according to collegeswimming.com. The Scarlet Knights look to continue its growth this season with a more experienced roster and a new addition to its coaching staff.
Spiniello spent the four seasons prior to Rutgers as an assistant women’s swimming coach at Princeton University, helping the Tigers to four Top 25 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
“I am extremely excited and honored to be the next swimming and diving head coach at Rutgers University,” said Spiniello at the time of his hire. “It’s humbling to be afforded this opportunity with such an outstanding athletic department and University. I can’t wait to get started.”
Spiniello was instrumental in helping Princeton, which entered 2010-11 on a 30-meet win streak, to unprecedented success in recent years. In his four seasons alongside head coach Susan Teeter, Princeton finished in the Top 25 each year at NCAAs, captured three Ivy League Championships, was nationally-ranked annually and earned All-America honors in numerous individual events, as well as the 2008 800-free relay.
In addition to his work poolside, Spiniello served as recruiting coordinator and brought in the nation’s 14th-ranked recruiting class in 2008, according to CollegeSwimming.com.
Princeton ended its 2010 campaign ranked atop the CollegeSwimming.com/CSCAA Mid-Major Rankings and finished 18th at the NCAA Championship meet for a second-consecutive season. The Tigers captured the Ivy League Championship for the third time in four years with Spiniello on staff, also winning league crowns in 2008 and 2007.
All-America honors were in frequent supply with Spiniello on the deck, as Alicia Aemisegger earned accolades 13 times from 2007-10.
During his tenure, Spiniello also directed the Princeton University Summer Swim Camp and served as head coach and director of the Tiger Aquatic Club.
Spiniello began his collegiate coaching career at Arizona State University, first as a graduate assistant coach (2003-04), before serving as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s swimming teams from 2004 to 2006.
With the Sun Devils, his responsibilities included on-deck coaching of all athletes, recruiting and coordinating team travel.
ASU’s men and women both had strong seasons in 2005 and 2006 with Spiniello’s assistance. The women’s team placed 12th at NCAAs in 2005 and 29th in 2006. The men’s side placed 20th at NCAAs in 2005 and 14th in 2006.
A former collegiate swimmer, Spiniello was a four-year varsity letterwinner and two-time team captain at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., from 1999-2003. He earned All-Centennial Conference honors and received the George McGinness Award for Outstanding Leadership as a senior. The Boston, Mass., native arrived in the Keystone State after attending Boston College High School, where he captured Boston Globe All-Scholastic accolades while helping the Eagles to three consecutive state swimming championships.
Spiniello earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Franklin and Marshall in 2003 before receiving a Master’s of Science in recreation management from Arizona State in 2006.
The Spiniello File
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Birth Date: August 28, 1980
High School: Boston (Mass.) College High School
Education: Franklin & Marshall College, B.A. History, 2003; Arizona State University, M.S. Recreation Management, 2006
COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE
2010-Present: Head Swimming & Diving Coach, Rutgers University
2006-2010: Assistant Women’s Swimming Coach, Princeton University
2004-2006: Assistant Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach, Arizona State University
2003-2004: Graduate Assistant Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach, Arizona State University
POSTSEASON FINISHES AS AN ASSISTANT COACH
2010 (Princeton): 18th at NCAA Championships (Ivy League Champions)
2009 (Princeton): 18th at NCAA Championships (Ivy League Dual Meet Champions)
2008 (Princeton): 24th at NCAA Championships (Ivy League Champions)
2007 (Princeton): 24th at NCAA Championships (Ivy League Champions)
2006 (Arizona State): 29th (Women) and 14th (Men) at NCAA Championships
2005 (Arizona State): 12th (Women) and 20th (Men) at NCAA Championships
