Aggies Add Joe Gucwa as Assistant Dive Coach

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State Swimming & Diving added Joe Gucwa to its employees, Head Coach Rick Pratt introduced. The Illinois native made stops at Saginaw State and South Dakota earlier than his most up-to-date teaching stint with Florida Gulf Coast in 2023-24. Gucwa leads an Aggie diving room that features Megan Ono, Mira Tinani, Peytton Moore and Addison Pastiak.

Joe Gucwa, on becoming a member of the employees: “I’m excited for this new chapter in beautiful Las Cruces with our amazing coaching staff, wonderful swimmers and divers! I’m looking forward to helping impact both swimmers and divers in and out of the pool every day. It’s my goal to continue bringing smiles and laughs to everyone while always striving to improve. NMSU already feels like home!”

While at FGCU (2023-24), Gucwa helped improve group diving factors by 26 from the earlier 12 months. The group jumped from a 73-point mark in 2022-23 to 99 in his lone 12 months on the helm, regardless of the earlier high two scorers having graduated. The group scored all six divers in each occasions and earned a CSCAA Academic All-America Team choice on the finish of the season.

In his solely 12 months with South Dakota (2022-23), Gucwa elevated group diving factors by 47 from earlier marketing campaign (78 to 125). The group produced the second-most group diving factors on the Summit League Championships, headlined by bronze medalists on each the 1m and 3m dive. He guided the group to 5 finals appearances and three consolations, with all divers scoring in each occasions. One Coyote diver superior to the NCAA Zone D Championship, with a number of members incomes spots on the CSCAA Academic All-America Team.

Gucwa was additionally the top diving coach at Saginaw Valley State University from 2018-22. The Cardinals had a diver seem on the NCAA Division II National Championships in every year beneath Gucwa’s steerage. During his first season (2018-19), diver Libby Caird certified for the nationwide championships and completed in fifteenth place within the one-meter diving occasion. She earned All-American honors after tallying 385.45 factors. Gucwa once more helped Caird to the NCAA Championship meet within the following season.

The 2020-21 marketing campaign introduced extra success for Gucwa and his divers. Half of the Cardinal divers certified for the nationwide meet, together with a 3rd consecutive look for Caird. Later, Justin Ott grew to become the first-ever NCAA First Team All-American for the lads’s program after a seventh-place end on the nationwide meet. 

A local of Naperville, Illinois, Gucwa was a member of the swimming and diving group whereas attending Grand Valley State. He was an eight-time Division II All-American for the Lakers from 2014-2018. He earned a National First Team All-American honor after ending third within the three-meter dive with a rating of 472.10 on the 2017 NCAA Championships. Gucwa obtained his bachelor’s diploma in communications from Grand Valley State in 2019.

Head Coach Rick Pratt, on the addition of Gucwa: “We are thrilled to have coach Gucwa move to Las Cruces to lead our diving program. Throughout the search process, we found Joe to have a kind personality and strong knowledge to mentor our divers and provide the coaching that will help them improve and thrive. His passion for coaching and the sport of diving will be a great asset to our program, so I am excited to have him on deck.”

The Aggies will return to motion on Friday, Dec. 19, for a twin meet at North Texas. The Mean Green are set to host the bout at Pohl Recreation Center & PEB Natatorium, whereas NM State seems to be to repeat its head-to-head victory from a 12 months in the past (138-104). The matchup will start at 11:00 AM MT (12:00 PM native).

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