RINDGE, N.H. (June 2, 2016) – Franklin Pierce University Director of Athletics Bruce Kirsh has announced Brian Fazzino has been named the first-ever head coach of the University's women's swimming program. Fazzino has a total of four years of experience as a collegiate assistant coach at three institutions, and has spent time in all three NCAA divisions.

"I am very excited for the opportunity Franklin Pierce University has given me and my family," said Fazzino. "I look forward to, and am very eager to, begin the challenge ahead of me of starting and building a team."

Rindge will be the first collegiate head coaching stop for Fazzino, who comes to Franklin Pierce after spending time at a fellow Division II East Region institution. Most recently, he served as assistant swim coach at the University of Bridgeport, working under head coach Sean Raffile. While at Bridgeport, Fazzino had a hand in coaching one national champion, nine individual All-Americans, six All-America relay squads, 16 NCAA Championships qualifiers and 35 conference champions. In the classroom, he helped tutor one CoSIDA Academic All-America selection and helped both the men's and women's teams to academic accolades at the team level, from the College Swim Coaches Association of America. This past season, Fazzino was specifically responsible for working closely with the team's distance swimmers.

"I will look to build a team with hardworking and caring individuals, who will be a great addition to Raven Nation," Fazzino continued. "Our program will look to make both the student body and the school proud."

Prior to his time at Bridgeport, Fazzino spent the 2011-12 campaign as an assistant at the University of Florida, under head coach Gregg Troy, who would go on to serve as head men's coach for United State Swimming at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In one season with the powerhouse Gators, Fazzino was able to assist in the coaching of one national champion, 20 All-Americans and 55 more All-America Honorable Mention student-athletes, as well as eight Southeast Conference champions. During his year at Florida, the men's team placed eighth at the NCAA Championships, while the women took 10th.

"I am excited to welcome coach Fazzino to the Athletic Department at Franklin Pierce University," said Kirsh. "I believe his background and experience across varying levels of collegiate athletics make him a strong selection to guide the building of our women's swimming program."

Prior to Florida, Fazzino also spent one season at the Division III level, as an assistant coach at Wesleyan. While with the Cardinals, he assisted in coaching one All-American and three top-three finishers at the conference championship.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to work at a school so dedicated to its athletics," Fazzino added. "I am excited to be able to lead these young ladies and help develop them into women who will be prepared to leave Franklin Pierce ready for whatever challenges they pursue next."

Fazzino is a 2007 graduate of Norwich University, with a degree in political science. He will spend the 2016-17 academic year recruiting for the Ravens, and laying the building blocks of a program which will begin competing in the Northeast-10 Conference in 2017-18.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).