2012-13 Coaching Staff

Peter Solomon -  Head Women's Swimming Coach

(860) 685-2929 - psolomon@wesleyan.edu

     Peter Solomon, an 18-year veteran head coach of men's and women's swimming and diving at NESCAC colleges Middlebury (1997-2011) and Amherst (1993-97), has been appointed an adjunct professor of physical education at Wesleyan and will lead the Cardinal men and women in the water begining with the 2012-13 campaign.
     Over his 14 seasons in charge of the Panthers' program at Middlebury, Peter was named NESCAC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year five times, most recently in 2010, and led his squad to a team championship in 2002.  His women compiled a cumulative dual-meet mark of 79-37 while his men went 71-45.  Over his years at Middlebury, Peter coached 64 NESCAC champions, 60 NCAA Division III All-Americans and five NCAA Division III National Champions.  In addition to his coaching assignment at Middlebury, Peter was aquatics director and served an NESCAC Championships meet director for the 2005 and 2010 women's championships and the 2008 men's championships.  He also helped establish and/or direct several camps and swimming programs at Middlebury.
     Prior to his appointment at Middlebury, Peter served in the same capacity at Amherst College for four seasons, directing his 1997 women's squad to sixth place in the NCAA Division III Championships while being named New England Division III Women's Swimming Coach of the Year in both 1995 and 1996.
     A 1985 graduate of North Carolina State University who went on to earn his M.A. at the University of Connecticut in 1993, Peter most recently served as an assistant swimming coach and director of operations at the University of Vermont during the 2011-12 campaign.  While at N.C. St., Peter served as a team co-captain for the swim squad and was a participant in the US Olympic Trials in the 200m backstroke for the 1980 Games.  He was an NCAA Division I Championships qualifier on several occasions in the 200-yard backstroke and finished as high as 15th.  In 1979 he established an National Junior Olympic record in the 200-yard backstroke and competed in the US Olympic Festival in Colorado Springs, Colo.
     Peter steps into the position at Wesleyan held on an interim basis in 2011-12 by legendary coach Frank Keefe.  Frank joined the staff to fill a void when 11-year veteran head swimming & diving coach and aquatics director Mary Bolich left Wesleyan to take a position in the athletic department at Penn State University.

Tony Bruno - Assistant Coach

(860) 685-4953

      A 2009 graduate of Springfield College, where he was a school-record-setting All-America swimmer, Tony Bruno came aboard the Wesleyan swimming and diving coaching staff in 2010-11 as an assistant for both men and women and is now in his third season in 2012-13.  Earning honorable-mention All-America honors as part of the Pride’s 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, Tony was part of two school-record performances and came through with first-team and second-team all-NEWMAC honors at the conference meet during his career.   He also was a team captain as a senior.
    Gaining coaching experience through swim clubs, YMCA and private school opportunities, Tony most recently served as an assistant coach and assistant aquatics director at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida as well as for the Gulliver swim club.  He also taught aquatics to the school’s K-through-8th-grade students.  Serving as an assistant coach for the Cheshire (Conn.) YMCA during the summers of 2007 and 2008,  he spent the summer of 2006 with the Panther aquatic club in Southbury, Conn. along with the Southbury Sharks in both 2004 and 2006.  In the spring of 2009, Tony had a aquatics internship at Western New England College.
    Outside his collegiate swimming accomplishments, Tony was a seven-time YMCA All-American including a national runner-up finish in the 200 free relay with Cheshire YMCA to his credit.  He was a five-time Connecticut Seniors Champion while setting a state record along the way.  As a student at Pomperaug High School, Tony was an honorable-mention All-American, a five-time all-state selection and part of a Class M state champion 400 free relay.

Devon O'Nalty - Diving Coach

     Devon O’Nalty, a 2008 graduate of Marist College, enters his third year as men's and women's diving coach in 2012-13, having joined the Wesleyan coaching staff during the 2010-11 season.  A four-year veteran diver at Marist, Devon capped his outstanding career by securing the three-meter title at the ECAC Division I Championship and capturing second place on the one-meter board.  For his effort, Devon was rewarded with the Diver of the Meet honor. He went on to compete in the Zone A NCAA qualifying meet, placing 10th of 31 on the low board and 16th on the high board.
    During his career at Marist, Devon was the James Pizzani Award winner for outstanding community service, work ethic and leadership ability.  He also received the Men’ Coaches Award and was the swimming & diving team MVP.  A communications major, Devon served as public relations director for Marist’s student-run TV station as a senior.  He also was a student assistant in the admissions office for two years.
    Currently employed as a community service representative for the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Job Center in New London, Devon also serves as assistant head coach for the Xavier High School swimming & diving team in Middletown and as diving coach for the Mercy High School squad.