After leading the Niagara University men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs since 2019, head coach Eric Bugby has announced his departure from the role.
“Eric has done an outstanding job fostering a championship mindset within our swimming programs,” said Associate Vice President for Athletics Simon Gray. “His time at Niagara has been marked by remarkable achievements both in the pool and in the classroom. We thank him for his dedication and professionalism, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Under Bugby’s leadership, the Purple Eagles experienced a period of exceptional success, highlighted by three MAAC women’s championships (2022, 2024, 2025) and the MAAC men’s title in 2025. His efforts earned him MAAC Women’s Coach of the Year honors in 2022 and a sweep of both the men’s and women’s coaching awards in 2025.
During his tenure, several Purple Eagles swimmers earned performance-based accolades, including Natalie Killion as 2025 MAAC Women’s Swimmer of the Meet, Alaina Pitton as 2024 MAAC Women’s Rookie of the Meet, and both Martina Davis and Lance Cruz earning Rookie of the Meet honors in 2025.
Under Bugby’s leadership, success went beyond the pool, with both the men’s and women’s programs earning Scholar All-American honors multiple times from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association.
Bugby came to Niagara from Lehigh University, where he was the associate head coach for men’s and women’s swimming and diving. Prior to that, he spent a year at Denver, where the team won all 34 Summit League conference event titles in 2017. He also had previous stops as a graduate assistant at Arizona State from 2007-2009, twice at Army – West Point as an assistant from 2010-2013 and as associate head coach from 2014-2016, and as the head coach at Illinois Tech from 2013-2014.
A national search is already underway for the program’s next head coach. Notably, 14 swimmers from Niagara—seven men and seven women—are currently in the transfer portal.
Interestingly it is the Niagara men’s second MAAC title, first was in 1994
Not mentioned is it’s been 17 years since a program swept men’s and women’s championships (Marist 2008). Doing so without diving is a testament to Bugby’s recruiting and coaching skills.
Absolutely love the team, atmosphere and culture that Eric cultivated at Niagara but the school itself has basically spit in our faces year after year and give us absolutely no support. Very hard to see him go because I doubt the administration will give any true effort to finding a suitable replacement anytime soon.
Amen
Wow, he is the top dog of the MAAC. Wonder what the story is.
Wants to pursue a life outside of coaching, probably due to the fact that Niagara has no money, no endowments, does not care about the swimming program since it is non revenue generating.
Not to mention the AD was the one to cut diving, and can’t wait to get off the pool deck any time he’s on it. I’d quit coaching too after having to deal with him and the athletics staff after 5 years.
Must be hard to win 4 championships making 60k, when the basketball team didn’t make the MAAC championship, had everyone transfer (this year again too) and makes 350k
Well, the lawsuit was proven false in court months ago. I wouldn’t think that’s still the reason.