Patrick Snively Returns to Fairmont State University as Head Swimming Coach

Courtesy: Fairmont State Athletics

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Fairmont State University announced today the return of Patrick Snively as head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming programs. A former student-athlete and long-time coach at Fairmont State, Snively steps back into the role after serving as interim coach last season alongside Falcon alum Nathan Fubio.

Snively’s coaching career began at Fairmont State as a student assistant under Ed Denny. After completing graduate school, he returned as an assistant coach before taking over as head coach in the fall of 2001. He led the program for nearly two decades before departing in December 2020 to become director of athletics at Wheeling University. He later spent two and a half years as director of athletics at Davis & Elkins College before returning to Fairmont as president of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Pat Snively back to Fairmont State Athletics, as our head coach of Men’s and Women’s Swimming,” Director of Athletics, Greg Bamberger said. “Pat’s extensive career in coaching and athletic administration made this decision pretty simple.  I look forward to working together with Coach Snively to bring our programs back to regional and national prominence.”

In addition to coaching, Snively held several roles throughout his time at Fairmont State, including instructor in the Physical Education Department, interim director of sports information, compliance officer, and senior associate director of athletics.

During his tenure, Snively guided his student-athletes to 26 NCAA All-American performances, 91 school records, seven National Swimmer of the Week honors, and seven Conference Swimmer of the Year awards. His teams won the men’s West Virginia Intercollegiate Conference Championship in 2005 and the women’s Mountain East Conference Championship in 2018. Twice named Conference Coach of the Year, Snively also contributed to the sport on a national level, serving on the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) Board of Directors, the CSCAA NCAA Division II Polling Committee, and the NCAA Division II National Swimming and Diving Championships Committee, where he played a key role in implementing a new National Championships qualification procedure in 2017-18 to improve the quality and depth of the competition.

A Level V coach with the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA), Snively has received ASCA’s Certificate of Excellence eight times.

Beyond the pool, Snively has been an active member of the Marion County community, serving on numerous boards and participating in several philanthropic efforts. In 2020, he and his wife, Amy, co-chaired the United Way of Marion and Taylor Counties’ annual campaign, helping to raise over $500,000 for local service organizations.

“Fairmont State means more to me than anyone could ever fathom,” said Snively. “When I left in 2020 to explore other career opportunities, Fairmont State and its swimming program remained close to my heart. Moving back has reaffirmed to Amy and me that Fairmont is our home. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach again at a place that has given me so much. More than just coaching, this is about making a positive impact on young people and playing a meaningful role in their development. I am appreciative of Greg Bamberger and President Davis for their trust in me as I return to my alma mater.”

Snively holds a degree in Architecture and an MBA from Fairmont State, as well as a master’s in physical education from West Virginia University. He and his wife, Amy, who serves as Fairmont State’s director of alumni relations, reside in Fairmont.