Eight days after coach Chase Kreitler’s sudden resignation, Pitt revealed a new leadership model for the swimming and diving program that comes off one of the most successful campaigns in school history.
Katie Kasprzak, Pitt’s diving coach since 2017, was announced Tuesday afternoon with the new title of director of swimming and diving, responsible for hiring her own successor and a separate swimming coach.
Per Pitt’s news release, Kasprzak will “immediately lead national searches to identify both head coaches and will serve as their mentor and developer, an aspect of the role that reflects both her strengths and Pitt’s broader commitment to staff development.”
Additionally, Kasprzak will also be entrusted to “(deepen) relationships with alumni and donors, connecting the program’s past to its future and building the philanthropic foundation for long-term growth.”
“Katie has established herself as one of the premier coaches in the country, and what sets her apart goes well beyond the technical side of the sport,” athletic director Allen Greene said. “She is a strategic thinker and a culture builder. She is deeply invested in the total development of our student-athletes academically, athletically and personally. That speaks to the kind of leader and mentor she is, and that is exactly the profile we wanted leading this program. She is a genuine team player and a respected partner throughout our athletics department.
“This restructuring is a deliberate and thoughtful response to the evolving realities of college athletics and the responsibilities placed on coaches today that go well beyond the pool. This role gives Katie the opportunity to apply her expertise and impact across our entire swimming and diving program, and the model we are building around her is one we believe will set a new standard for how programs like ours can operate and compete.”
Kasprzak’s new role comes on the heels of Kreitler’s unexpected resignation, a copy of which was obtained and published by SwimSwam Magazine.
“I was recently informed that the department intends to move in a different strategic direction after the 2026-2027 season,” Kreitler said. “While I was offered the opportunity to coach one more year, I do not believe I could operate in integrity continuing to recruit transfers and incoming student-athletes knowing I would not be part of their journey beyond next season.”
In a statement officially announcing Kreitler’s departure, Greene in part said he told Pitt’s swimming and diving student-athletes about a “continued desire to field a nationally competitive program.”
This past season, Pitt’s women’s team earned a CSCAA ranking at No. 24 for the first time in December and reached as high as No. 21 in March.
The team then placed 16th at the NCAA championships, its highest finish in program history. The Panthers women placed sixth at the ACC championships, another program best.
Pitt’s men’s team took 20th at the NCAA championships, its highest finish in 73 years.
Pitt diving had a program-record 12 athletes qualify for the zone championships and five move on to the NCAA meet.
All told, Pitt swimmers and divers set 19 team records at the NCAA championships, including all five men’s relays.
Over nine seasons prior to accepting her new role, Kasprzak, coached 17 divers to a combined 32 NCAA championship qualifications and captured 2024 ACC men’s diving coach of the year honors.
In doing so, she became the first female coach to earn an ACC coach of the year accolade in either men’s or women’s swimming and diving.
Under her guidance, Dylan Reed became the first member of the Pitt diving program to earn an invitation to Team USA.
“I am incredibly grateful to Allen Greene, (associate athletic director for administration) Blaire Ford and the University of Pittsburgh for this opportunity,” Kasprzak said. “This program means a great deal to me, and I’m fully committed to building on the strong foundation we have in place. While I’ll continue some coaching responsibilities with diving, this role allows us to better support our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and donors.
“My No. 1 priority will be leading a national search for head swimming and head diving coaches who align with our vision and the profile our student-athletes helped define. This structure creates the capacity to lead, mentor and support at a level the program hasn’t had before. I’m excited to build an environment where coaches can focus on coaching and developing meaningful relationships with our athletes, and I trust that under this new structure, the best is still ahead of Pitt.”
Prior to Pitt, Kasprzak served as coach of the Duke Diving Club in Durham, N.C. A native of Harpenden, England, Kasprzak also served as the diving technical operations manager for the organizing committee of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.