STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook University Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron has announced that Mark Anderson '13 has been elevated to swimming and diving head coach on a permanent basis. Anderson led the team as the interim head coach during the 2021-22 campaign and guided the Seawolves to a memorable season, highlighted by a strong showing at the ECAC Championships.
 
"Mark did an outstanding job as our interim head coach and absolutely earned the opportunity to lead the team forward on a permanent basis. Our team showed tremendous progress this past season, and I have every confidence that our women will continue to thrive under Mark's leadership," said Heilbron.
 
Over the course of the season, the Seawolves had their fair share of success under Anderson's tutelage. The team picked up their first dual meet win of the season by defeating St. Francis Brooklyn, 178.5-118.5, on November 13. The win marked the first of Anderson's head coaching career. Anderson guided the Seawolves to a 4-2 record in dual meets as they tallied wins over St. Francis, Siena, St. Joseph's (LI), and Rider.
 
Stony Brook recorded a standout first-place finish at the Blue Devil Invite at the beginning of December. The Seawolves totaled 626 points and finished in first out of a five-team field. Stony Brook registered eight first-place finishes in the meet and set six meet records in the process.
 
"I am incredibly honored and thankful for the opportunity to become Stony Brook's swimming and diving's head coach. This season was full of adversity for our program but the team grew closer and closer as the year went on. I was incredibly proud of how we ended our year down at ECACs in Annapolis setting four program records in one weekend. We set the tone for our future and we showed ourselves that this is just the beginning of something special. Thank you to our Athletic Director Shawn Heilbron for believing in me and allowing me to continue to grow this program into what we know it can be! I could not be more excited for the future of our swimming and diving team. Go Seawolves!!" said Anderson.
 
The Seawolves concluded their season by putting forth a strong showing at the ECAC Championship in Annapolis, Md. Stony Brook recorded a sixth-place finish racking up 243 points as it took part in the 19-team championship meet. The team set four new program records at the meet as senior Jessica Salmon (100 & 200 breast), sophomore Mary Kate Conway (200 fly), and the 400 medley relay squad comprised of MacDonald, Salmon, Enda, and Conway etched their names into the record book.
 
Stony Brook divers Sara DiStefano and Mia Sclar qualified for the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships and competed on the national stage on March 7.  
 
Following the season, Conway was named to the America East All-Academic Team for her work in the classroom and in the pool. Academics has been at the forefront of the program as the team posted a cumulative 3.25 GPA in the Fall 2021 semester.
 
As an assistant in 2020-21, he helped lead the Seawolves to a pair of podium finishes in the 200 free and 400 medley relays at the 2021 America East Championship. Briana Liew, Lara Youssef, and Conway, all freshmen at the time, joined then-sophomore Emma Waechter to earn bronze in the 200 free, while Yousseff, Conway and MacDonald, joined then-sophomore Amanda Heinz to earn bronze during the 400 medley relay.
 
In his first year with the Seawolves during the 2019-20 campaign, he made an immediate impact, helping three swimmers earn A final appearances at the America East Championship, including eventual 100 fly champion Michal Liberman. She also broke the school record in the race and ECAC Winter Championship record.
 
Anderson is also the head coach at Three Village Swim Club in East Setauket, N.Y., where he has worked since 2012. Anderson has also been a coach at The University of Michigan's Wolverine Swim camp, learning from influential coaches such as Bob Bowman, Jon Urbanchek, Mike Bottom, Mark Hill, and Jim Richardson.
 
Anderson swam collegiately for the Seawolves under coaches Dave Alexander and Chris Brandenberger, earning his degree in Environmental Health and Safety in 2013.
 
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