WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University swimming and diving program has added two assistant coaches for its 2012-13. Breda O’Connor, who swam and worked previously with head coach Mike Kotch at Bentley University and Regis College, will serve as the assistant swimming coach and as Brandeis’s aquatics director, while alumna Charlotte Rea ’09 returns as the diving coach.
O’Connor joins the Judges’ coaching staff after previously serving as head coach for the men and women’s programs at Regis College, where she also received her Master’s in Organizational Communications in 2011. O’Connor led the Pride to impressive results, with the men recording their highest ever placement at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) and Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships, breaking nearly every team record in the process. O’Connor recruited some of the top Division III women in New England to join the Pride this fall. O’Connor served as the Aquatics Director and the staff liaison to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Along with coaching at the collegiate level, O’Connor worked as a developmental coach for the Bernal’s Gator Swim Club 2005-2009, and currently works for MetroWest Aquatic Club (MAC), a technically-based club she helped develop three years ago. At MAC, O’Connor works with the age group swimmers and facilitates club communication.
Prior to coaching, O’Connor had the opportunity to swim for Coach Kotch at Bentley University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing. At Bentley, O’Connor helped the Falcons to a record of 39-14 over her four years and led the squad as captain her senior year.
Rea is one of the top divers in Brandeis history, ranking in the top three of nearly every major diving category in the Judges’ record book. She posted NCAA Division III Championship qualifying marks in each of her four seasons competing for the Judges. Rea won the New England championship at one meter as a freshman, reached the finals at both one- and three-meters at the University Athletic Association championships as a sophomore and claiming All-UAA honors at one-meter as a senior. She was presented with an Athletic Director’s Award for general athletic excellence after her senior campaign.
After graduating from Brandeis in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts, Rea has coached with several high school programs, including Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton and Wakefield High Schools. She also recently had the opportunity to participate in a 10-day training trip to China, where she was able to observe some of the world’s top divers and diving programs.
“Breda and Charlotte are tremendous additions to the staff,” Kotch said. “Having worked well with Breda in the past, and knowing of Charlotte’s skill in her sport and familiarity with Brandeis, I know we can bring the program to new heights.”
The Brandeis swimming and diving program, which last competed in 2009, will resume its varsity schedule on October 20th against Wheaton College.
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