Derek Sapp - Men's Swimming and Diving Coach - Seton Hall University Athletics

Derek Sapp

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
derek.sapp@shu.edu
Phone:
(973) 761-9594

**2018 BIG EAST WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING CO-COACH OF THE YEAR**

Derek Sapp has led Seton Hall swimming & diving to great heights both in the pool and in the classroom since being promoted to head coach in May 2017 following four years as an assistant coach for the Pirates. His tenure and hard work at The Hall coincide with the men’s and women’s programs enjoying their greatest eras of success.

With Sapp at the helm, the Pirates collected a heap of trophies and a mountain of broke record during the 2024-25 season. Over the course of the season, The Hall recorded 18 new school record and two swimmers, Allie Waggoner and Michael Klimaszewski, broke decade-old BIG EAST Records. In addition, at the BIG EAST Championships, seven Pirates claimed BIG EAST titles. In a down to the wire finish, the men's team finished second at the BIG EAST Championships, the highest since the team's 2018 BIG EAST title-winning season.. As a unit the Pirates earned 14 All-BIG EAST distinctions while setting 42 new top-10 times. her school and BIG EAST record-breaking season, Allie Waggoner joined Kevin Webster as the second Pirate, and first female swimmer, to compete at the NCAA Championships.

The 2023-24 saw a reduction in title-winning volume for Sapp and The Hall, but the top times kept pouring in. Michale Kilmaszewski claimed his second consecutive BIG EAST title in the 100 butterfly, Sean Vizzard his second title in the 1650 freestyle. That championship, however, was highlighted by Allie Waggoner claiming BIG EAST Co-Most Outstanding Female Swimmer awards after a pair of dominant wins in the 500 and 1650 Freestyles. In all, 17 Pirate claimed All-BIG EAST honors. Meanwhile, out of the pool, Clil Halevi and Sean Vizzard earned CSCAA Scholar Academic All-American honors for their combination of athletic and academic prowess.

The 2022-23 season saw the Pirates surge on the conference stage thanks to Sapp's coaching with 11 combined BIG EAST title across both teams. On the women's side, Natalie Heim burst onto the scene, winning the 100 and 200 freestyles in school record-breaking fashion, while Allie Waggoner collected her first BIG EAST title in the 1650 Freestyle. For the men, the trio of Ross Pantano, Michael Klimaszewski and Quinn Murtha each claimed a pair of individual BIG EAST titles. Murtha's double victory on the boards was the first by any male Seton Hall diver since Ben Mitchell's wins at the 2015 BIG EAST Championships. After the championships, the Pirates netted 19 All-BIG EAST honorees, the most since The Hall's 20 honorees in 2018.

After a COVID-impacted 2020-21 campaign, the Pirates returned to normal action during the 2021-22 season. Sean Vizzard and Justin Oosterwyk each claimed individual BIG EAST titles. After the season, 14 pirates were named as All-BIG EAST selections. During the 2019-20 season, Sapp helped guide his teams to successful seasons both in the pool and in the classroom. As a unit the Pirates earned 15 All-BIG EAST distinctions while setting 40 new top-10 times. Six school records fell while six Pirates were crowned BIG EAST Champions. On the academic side, both squads were named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans for both semesters while senior Josh Tosoni was the first male swimmer in program history to be named a CSCAA Scholar All-American.

In his first year as head coach, Sapp coached the men to their second consecutive BIG EAST Championship, a comeback victory on the final night of the 2018 meet. The efforts to win the conference title once again were aided by seven program records and nine gold medals. The unit also garnered a league-best 11 All-BIG EAST selections.

Sapp was not only an influential figure for the men in 2017-18, but also the women, whose third-place finish at the BIG EAST Championship was the highest in program history. The elevation of the program’s performance earned him 2018 Co-BIG EAST Women’s Coach of the Year.

Not only have both swimming & diving programs have success in athletics, but they also excel academically under Sapp’s leadership. The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) have named the Seton Hall men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams to its Scholar All-America team for each of the six semesters that Sapp has been head coach. Also, Seton Hall swimmers and divers have earned a total of 74 BIG EAST All-Academic team selections in Sapp’s first two years as head coach, an honor reserved for student-athletes who complete an entire academic year with a grade point average above 3.0.

Before his accomplishments as the head coach, Sapp also played an important role in securing the 2017 BIG EAST Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship. As an assistant with the program, he planned and implemented workouts, provided instruction and feedback to members of both the men’s and women’s squads, and was also responsible for the coordination of the Pirates’ recruiting efforts.

Prior to his arrival in South Orange, the Pittsburgh native spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at West Virginia University. During his time with the Mountaineers, Sapp assisted in the administration of all aspects of the Mountaineers’ highly successful program.

A USA Swimming certified instructor, Sapp’s coaching background also includes stints at Club Mountaineer in Morgantown, W.Va. as well as the Longhorn Swim Camp in Austin, Texas.

A 2010 graduate of Edinboro (Pa.) University, Sapp entered the coaching ranks after a standout career in the pool for the Fighting Scots’ during which he twice served as team captain and garnered a number of All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors for his exploits. A four-year letter winner, he was also recognized as a scholar athlete each year.

Sapp completed his undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education with a dual concentration in sport and recreation administration and went on to earn a master’s degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia in 2013.

UPDATED JULY 2020