Courtesy: NJIT Athletics
Ron Farina, a veteran coach with 18 years coaching experience at the Division I level will lead the NJIT men’s swimming and diving program in 2018-19 Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan announced.
Farina joins NJIT after one season at Lafayette an assistant (2017-18).
“I am very honored to be named the new Head Coach for the NJIT Highlander’s swimming and diving team. I’d like to thank AD Lenny Kaplan and SWA Peg Hefferan for this great opportunity to become part of an athletics program on the rise. The new Wellness and Events Center is a state of the arts facility that all current and future students-athletes will benefit from for many years to come. As the only State University in New Jersey with a Division 1 Men’s swimming and diving team I am especially looking forward to recruiting student athletes for our 2023 class and continue to build the NJIT Swimming and Diving program into one of the best programs in the CCSA conference and beyond.”
Prior to his time at Lafayette, Farina served as the head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs at Seton Hall for 17 years.
During his time at Seton Hall, Farina was a two-time Big East Coach of the Year and led the Pirate men to a 2017 conference title.
Farina oversaw 203 All-Big East selections, 34 Big East individual champions while reigning over a program that broke 156 school records.
A 1993 Rutgers graduate, Farina was a six-time record holder for the Scarlet Knights setting school records in the 100, 200, and 500-yard freestyle, and the 200, 400, and 800-yard free relay.
Following graduation, Farina was an assistant coach for the Scarlet Aquatic Club and the varsity program.
From Rutgers Farina made his was to Virginia Tech in 1997- 1998 where he served another stint as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
In 1998, Farina founded the Liner Aquatics Club in Phillipsburg, NJ.
He was in charge of all aspects of the USA Swimming Organization, including administration, coaching and the training of swimmers ages 6-18.
Ron will take over for Michael Lawson who resigned. Lawson was an NJIT swimming and diving alumni and won the ECAC Winter Championships Coach of the Meet Award in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons and most recently was named 2017-18 CCSA Men’s Swimming Co-Coach of the Year.
Ron is the man! Congrats coach!