When Katie Kasprzak was announced in mid-May as Pitt’s new director of swimming and diving, she had two immediate related objectives to tackle.
Athletic director Allen Greene, in what was described as a “new leadership model” for Pitt’s program, entrusted Kasprzak to make separate coaching hires for both the swimming and diving squads.
Kasprzak, previously Pitt’s diving coach from 2017, has yet to identify her own successor, but on Monday, she announced Ian Walsh as the Panthers new swimming coach.
Walsh joins Pitt following eight seasons leading Marshall’s swimming and diving team.
“After carefully evaluating what our program, current student-athletes and future recruits need, it became clear that Ian is exactly the right person for this role,” Kasprzak said in a statement. “As a sitting head coach, he brings a wealth of experience from leading programs in the American Conference to coaching at a Power 4 institution that finished second at the NCAA Championships.
“His track record includes coaching NCAA champions and athletes at every level of the sport, from club swimmers to the U.S. National Team. What stood out most throughout this process was not only his success in the pool, but his commitment to culture, leadership and accountability. Ian believes in developing great people first, and together we will create an environment where athletes are challenged, supported and held to the highest standards as both competitors and individuals.
“What he accomplished at Marshall speaks for itself, but the grace, professionalism and integrity he demonstrated through adversity were equally impressive. Ian knows how to make athletes faster because he has done it at the highest levels of our sport. More importantly, he knows how to lead with character, purpose and integrity.”
Walsh swam collegiately at Duquesne, where he was a part of record-setting medley relay teams and set individual Dukes program records in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke.
Walsh guided the Thundering Herd to 243 all-time top-10 performances with 76 individual podium finishes, 21 school records and 17 individual conference champions.
“The University of Pittsburgh is an institution where you can balance elite academics and elite athletics,” Walsh said in a statement. “It is something the student-athletes here desire, and the program has shown it can be done through its rise in the ACC and NCAA ranks. I look forward to building upon the championship legacy of Pitt swimming and diving while recruiting men and women who want to be part of a championship culture here in Pittsburgh. Hail to Pitt.”
Walsh replaces Chase Kreitler, who abruptly resigned in April after being told by Pitt that “the department intends to move in a different strategic direction after the 2026-2027 season.”