Albion Hires Nick Stone as Head Swim & Dive Coach

Courtesy Albion Athletics

Nick Stone, who mentored the first All-America swimmer in 40 years at Buffalo State College and previously served as the interim head coach for the powerful program at Williams College, has been tabbed to lead the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs at Albion College.

Stone will also serve as director of the Dean Aquatic Center when he officially assumes his duties on July 1.

“I am thrilled to have Coach Stone join Albion College athletics and take over leadership of the swimming and diving program,” Athletic Director Matt Arend said. “We had a strong pool of applicants for the position. Nick’s contagious enthusiasm for the position and his vision for maintaining the upward trajectory of the program clearly made him stand out as the top candidate. Coach Stone’s familiarity with swimming in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and his success at Williams College and Buffalo State have prepared him well to have a successful career at Albion College. I look forward to watching our swimmers and divers flourish under his guidance.”

In just three seasons at Buffalo State, Stone helped the Bengals set 30 school records as both the men’s and women’s teams moved up in the State University of New York Athletic Conference championship standings.

In addition to helping the team rise in the conference, Stone developed Buffalo State into a presence at the NCAA Division III Championship as he coached a six-time All-America performer.

Stone created a culture for team and individual success in both academics and athletics at Buffalo State, and the women’s squad was recognized by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America as a Scholar All-America team for three consecutive semesters, while the men’s squad achieved the distinction twice.

Stone broke into the coaching ranks as the assistant for the women’s team at Ithaca (N.Y.) College in 2010 before coaching the men’s squad for the 2011-2012 season. He moved to positions as the assistant coach at Williams and head coach of Purple Valley Aquatics, a club program in Williamstown, Mass., in 2012.

During his tenure at Williams, the Ephs boasted 43 national qualifiers. The men’s team captured the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship in all three seasons and finished as high as third at the NCAA Championship. On the women’s side, Williams won consecutive NESCAC titles and also placed third nationally.

Stone has a master’s degree in sport psychology from Ithaca and a bachelor’s in psychology from Hope College, where he was a three-year swimmer and NCAA qualifier in the 200 free and 800 free relay.

“I am honored to take over a program that is rising in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and building a presence at the NCAA Championships,” Stone said. “I am looking forward to building the national presence, with a goal of moving the men’s team among the top 10 and qualifying women for individual and relay swims, as well as looking forward to getting into my home conference.”