HEAD COACH:
Martie Staser, (585) 389-2198
mstaser3@naz.edu

Now in her third season as head coach of Nazareth's men's and women's swim teams, Martie Staser has helped lend stability to the two programs.

Staser has strengthened the numbers for both teams and has experienced unprecedented success along the way.

The women's team has posted a 19-1 dual meet record over the past two seasons, including the team's first-ever unbeaten season (9-0) in 2005-06. Nazareth also finished second in the Empire 8 Conference championship in each of the past two seasons while winning 20 conference titles. The E8 Coach of the Year in 2004-05, Staser helped produce two All-Americans last season -- Emily Lesher in the 200 and 400 IM and Aubrey Kirchoff in the 100 butterfly.

Staser, a former swimming standout at the University at Buffalo, was named head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at Nazareth in September, 2004. She replaced Rick Aronberg, who coached the Golden Flyers for 11 seasons.

Staser grew up in New Hampshire, then swam scholastically at Germantown Academy near Philadelphia. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from UB, where she was a four-year letterwinner in swimming and a Mid-Continent Conference champion in four events. She served as team captain in 1995-96 and 1996-97 and was a first-team all-conference selection all four seasons there.

Staser’s most recent position was as academic advisor for intercollegiate athletics at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill. She also was coordinator of the university’s Life Skills Program and advisor to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. In Illinois, she was an assistant swim coach at the Edwardsville YMCA.

Staser also has coaching experience at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, Hazelwood Elite Aquatic Team in Missouri, and the Nickel City Splash Swim Club in Buffalo.

At UB, Staser won conference titles in the 1650 free, 500 free, 200 fly, and 400 IM. Other accolades included selection as Academic All-Conference in 1994, 1996, and 1997.

In addition to coaching swimming and serving as aquatics director, Staser teaches classes in Nazareth’s Life Skills Program.