BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Bridgewater State College Director of Athletics, John Harper, announced today that John Pringle has been promoted to the position of head coach of the BSC men's and women's swimming and diving teams. Pringle takes over the head coaching duties following the resignation of Brett Oteri.

Coach Pringle came to Bridgewater State in May of 2008 as he was hired as the college's first full-time Aquatic Director.  He also served as an assistant coach for the swim teams during his first year at BSC.

"John Pringle's promotion to head coach means that the BSC's swimming and diving teams will benefit from a full-time coaching presence on campus," said Harper.  "In addition, John's coaching expertise and successes will translate into new excitement and focus for our student-athletes." 

"While I am truly appreciative of Brett Oteri's dedication to our programs over the past seven years, I am very excited about the future of BSC swimming and diving under John Pringle's leadership," Harper added.

A native of Snohomish, Washington, Pringle was the Aquatics Supervisor for the Snohomish School District and the head coach for the Snohomish High School girl's swimming and diving team for 17 years.  He also coached the boy's swimming and diving team for 11 seasons until 2001. 

While at Snohomish, the girl's swim team won 11 district and league championships, including each of John's last ten seasons.  They also captured three straight Washington State 4A championships from 1998 to 2000 and their dual meet record over his 17 seasons was an impressive 135-39.  John was also the interim Athletics Director at Snohomish High School for the 1996-1997 school year.

John received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Central Washington University in 1987.  He majored in biology at Central Washington with a physical education minor.  Pringle also received a Master of Science degree in Athletic Administration from CWU in 1995.

At Central Washington, John was a three-year letter winner on the men's swimming and diving team and helped the squad capture a pair of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championships in 1984 and 1987.

John, his wife, Shawna, and four children, Geoff, Chelsey, Justin and Kaleb, presently reside in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.