University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Swimming and Diving
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 860-208-8546
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 also at the helm when All-American Diver Monica Marcello finished her career.
In the Classroom, the academic performance of student-athletes at UConn thrives under coach Maiello. Both men's and women's teams have been honored yearly by the CSCAA for team and individual academic achievements.
Coach Maiello has also had the program involved in community. Yearly, UConn raises money for SAA-RI (cancer research) and provides free swim lessons to the UConn Community.
Maiello, a 2002 graduate of Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., with a bachelor's degree in business management, was a two-time All-American. He later earned a master's degree from the United States Sports Academy.
Maiello and his wife Kimberly have three children, Vanessa, twin boys, James and Giovanni.
Coaches Words
“UConn is a great place to grow as a student athlete through the sport of swimming and diving. The academic and athletic environments challenge our student athlete to rise to their best. It is a pleasure to serve our student-athlete community as their swimming and diving head coach. It is with great excitement that we look towards the future of our program, GO HUSKIES!
Career Snapshot
2013-2017- University of North Dakota- Head Coach M/W Swimming and Diving
- U.S Olympic Trials Representation
- North Dakota doubled win % and set 37 program records
- NCAA provisional qualifiers
2008-2013- United States Naval Academy- Assistant Swimming Coach
- Served as Lieutenant in U.S. Navy, Active Duty
- 2x Head Coach U.S.A. delegation, World Military Games
- 5 Team Conference Championships
- U.S Olympic Trials Representation
