Matt Barany

Biography

Atlantic 10 Champions: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2026 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2025, 2026 The University of Richmond women’s swimming and diving program has sustained excellence in both the pool and the classroom under the leadership of head coach Matt Barany. Since 2020, the program has maintained a team GPA of 3.65 or higher, earning University of Richmond Scholar Team of the Year honors in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Nationally, Richmond has been recognized as a College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America Team for 12 consecutive years. Individually, 11 Spiders have earned Academic All-America honors. In 2012, Mali Kobelja became the first Spider — and the first swimmer in Atlantic 10 history — to be named Atlantic 10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In the pool, the Spiders have captured 13 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving championships under Barany’s direction, including the program’s 17th conference title in 2026. Following that championship season, Barany earned his 11th Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year award (2025-26). Richmond’s success extends beyond the conference level. Barany has coached six NCAA qualifiers — Melissa Nwakalor, Hannah Gouger, Jessica Witt, Lauren Beaudreau, Katie Sieben and Lauren Hines — and two All-Americans (Witt in 2006 and 2007; Hines in 2012). Spider swimmers have qualified for Olympic Team Trials, with seven Olympic T