NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Niagara University Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced Monday the hiring of Ben Nigro as the Purple Eagles’ second full time head swimming and diving coach in school history.
“Ben brings energy and organization to our swimming and diving programs,” McLaughlin said. “He has a proven track record of recruiting top quality student-athletes at our level in his previous positions. We expect that Ben will continue that record and bring in Purple Eagles who excel in the classroom and in the pool.”
Nigro comes to Monteagle Ridge from the University of New Hampshire where he was an assistant coach for three years. He served as the recruiting coordinator for both the men’s and women’s programs, and his on-deck responsibilities entailed directing the distance program. Nigro also worked with the 200 flyers and 400 IMers as well. Nigro was also the Aquatics Programming Coordinator and Master’s Swimming Coach at UNH.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the fine student-athletes of Niagara University,” Nigro said. “I look forward to our success in the pool and classroom.”
In 2005 Nigro was part of the America East Coaching Staff of the Year as UNH women won the conference title for a third time.
Prior to New Hampshire, Nigro directed programs at the USA level in clubs in North Carolina, South Carolina and Vermont from 1997 to 2002. At Vermont, Nigro was in charge of men’s swimming recruiting, and at the club level he produced junior national qualifiers, YMCA national finalists and has successfully coached Master’s teams as well.
A 1993 graduate of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington with a bachelor of science in geology, Nigro began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater. Nigro was the graduate assistant for the Seahawk program for four years. While coaching at UNCW he was involved in recruiting and assisted the distance program and coached elite athletes like Turkish National Champion Burak Erdem.
During his last season at UNCW, Nigro helped the women’s program win the 1997 ECAC Championship.
As a student-athlete, Nigro was a four-year letterwinner for the UNCW, swimming breaststroke, IM and butterfly.
McLaughlin also announced that Brooke Nigro would be the Purple Eagles’ diving coach after working with the University of New Hampshire diving program for the past three years.
In 2005-06, Nigro helped Shana Dege break the one-meter school record while placing second on the one meter and third on the three meter at the 2006 America East Championship.
Prior to New Hampshire, Nigro was the diving coach at the University of Vermont from 2001 to 2003.
Nigro graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in communications from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in 1994. While at UNCW, Nigro was a College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Academic All American and a finalist on the one meter and three meter at the 1994 Colonial Athletic Association Conference Championships.
