Kacey McCaffrey is in her third season serving as an assistant coach of New York University’s combined men’s and women’s swimming & diving program. She also continues to serve as an assistant natatorium manager at NYU’s Palladium Athletic Facility (PAF) and at the Coles Sports Center.
In 2013-14, McCaffrey helped lead both programs to successful campaigns, as each posted identical 6-2 dual meet records. The women’s squad captured first place at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships and finished fifth at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships. The Violet men recorded their second consecutive second-place ECAC finish and placed sixth at the UAA’s.
Last season, McCaffrey also helped coach All-American Emily Doerner, who finished eighth in the 100-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships.
The 2013-14 season also saw NYU’s athletes rewrite the team’s record books. On the men’s side, senior Charlie Wu established new marks for both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke, while junior Matt Kendall set the record for the 200-yard breaststroke. Wu and Kendall also teamed with freshman Daniel Tay and junior Jerry Crowley to establish records for the 200-yard and 400-yard medley relays, while freshman Jason Bo set a new standard for the 200-yard butterfly and junior Austen Blease set the Violet mark for the one-meter dive (11).
On the women’s side, Doerner established new school records in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard breaststroke, and combined with sophomore Krista Traub and freshmen Katie Webber and Elise Gibbs to set records in the 200-yard medley, 400-yard medley, 200-yard free, and 400-yard free relays. Webber also set a new standard for the 200-yard breaststroke, while freshmen divers Ashley Pankonin and Nia Sorgente established new marks for the one-meter dive (6) and three-meter dive (6), respectively.
In 2012-13, McCaffrey helped lead the men’s team to a second-place finish at the ECAC Championships and to a seventh-place finish at the UAA Championships. Meanwhile, the women’s team took fourth and seventh at the ECAC and UAA Championships, respectively.
Prior to becoming an assistant under current Head Coach Trevor Miele, McCaffrey served as Acting Head Coach of the women’s swimming and diving team in 2011-12. She led the Violets to a 5-3 dual meet record, a fourth-place finish at the UAA Championships and a runner-up showing at the MIT Invitational. One of her swimmers, Molly Rippe, qualified for the NCAA Championships and earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades in the 1,650 free.
McCaffrey’s team also excelled in the classroom, as the Violets earned Scholar All-America Team honors from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) and 11 student-athletes received UAA Winter Sport All-Academic accolades.
A 2010 graduate of NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, McCaffrey swam for the Violets for four years and served as captain her senior season. During her career, McCaffrey set the PAF 500 free record and helped set the team record for the 800 free relay. She was also a three-time UAA All-Academic honoree.
In her time as an undergraduate, McCaffrey served as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President. She planned and coordinated events, including community service opportunities, as well as NYU’s “Think Pink” Campaign. McCaffrey was also a member of the Dean’s Research Travel Colloquium, NYU’s Surf Club, Steinhardt Scholars, Steinhardt’s Dean’s List, and a ProPeru Volunteer. For her distinguished achievements in leadership, McCaffrey received the NYU President’s Service Award in 2010.
During her time at NYU, McCaffrey also competed and garnered numerous awards for the Ocean City (NJ) Beach Patrol (OCBP) as its female open water swimmer. As a member of the OCBP, she served as a junior lifeguard instructor and coach for the USS Club team, the Ocean City C-Cerpants. As a result of her open water and coaching experience, McCaffrey was asked to serve as the Women’s Manager for the USA Swimming National Open Water Select Camp in 2012 and 2013.
Having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in media, culture and communication, along with a minor in business of entertainment and technology, McCaffrey served as a producer with The Chapter Media Production Company before returning to NYU.
A native of Ocean City, NJ, McCaffrey resides in the East Village of Manhattan.
