University of Connecticut Women's Swimming & Diving

Chris Maiello was introduced as UConn’s Head Swimming and Diving Coach on April 19th 2017. He begins his 9th year as the Head Coach for the Huskies. Maiello has 23 years of coaching experience, 13 as Division 1 Head Coach. At the conclusion of the 24-25 season, Coach Maiello’s career dual meet record stands at -106-37-2 (74%). In a championship setting, the Huskies have won multiple individual champions and have placed a strong 2nd at the Big East Championships. Each of the past four seasons, the team has set a record for points at the conference championship meet. All while send athletes to NCAA championships, USA swimming championships and international competitions. In recognition, Coach Maiello and his staff were awarded Big East Coaching Staff of the Year during the 2024 season. UConn’s Swimming and Diving program has been a consistent championship contender during his tenure. Looking back, the Huskies program experienced success in his inaugural season in Storrs in 2017-18. Maiello and staff helped lead the team to an impressive 13-1 dual meet record, the huskies obtained 18 NCAA “B” standards, 12 school records, recorded 67 swims in the program’s all-time top ten and earned 113 lifetime-best performances, as well as the dual meet season wins record at UConn. During his early tenure, Coach Maiello coached and mentored UConn’s 1st ever NCAA men’s qualifier and All-American Will Kearsey. Subsequently, Will becoming UConn’s Male Athlete of the year in 2020. Maiello was als

In her second season, Polk's success did not stop. She once again helped lead the Huskies to a second place finish at the BIG EAST Championships and has four divers competing nationally at NCAA Zones. During the 2025-26 BIG EAST Championships, Polk coached Kate Cooper to a 3rd place finish in the 3-meter competition and coached Olivia Denery to her second straight 1st place finish in the 1-meter Dive. Katie Polk's impact was immediately felt in her first season as UConn Head Diving Coach. Polk helped lead the Huskies to a 2nd place finish in the BIG EAST Championships as well as leading five divers to compete at the national stage at NCAA Zones. At BIG EAST Championships Polk and the Huskies dominated as they swept teh 1-meter competition as Darah Ostrom placed third, Kate Cooper 2nd and Olivia Denery was named BIG EAST Champion after taking home 1st place. The success did not stop there as Kate Cooper was named BIG EAST Champion in the 3-meter dive. Polk's efforts did not go unnoticed as she was named BIG EAST Diving Coach of the Year alongside her diver Kate Cooper who was named BIG EAST Diver of the year. Coach Katie shares our belief that our Diving program will continue to be tops in the Big East and continually send athletes to the NCAA level," commented Maiello. "You will find that coach Katie is well prepared, organized, caring, and motivated. She will push our student athletes to grow in and out of the pool. I fully expect our diving program to advance under her lead