Kaitlyn Ferguson joined the Penn Swimming & Diving staff in July 2018 as Head Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for both the men’s and women’s teams. Since joining the Quakers, Ferguson has aided in the recruitment of Penn’s highest-ranked recruit ever (eighth) and one of Penn’s highest-ranked women’s recruiting classes in recent history.
Ferguson is the primary coach of the middle-distance stroke group and the sprint group. Under her leadership, the men’s 400 freestyle relay won the program’s first Ivy League championship in 50 years. Ferguson’s Penn swimmers have combined to break 15 school records. They include Catherine Buroker, a two-time Ivy League champion who became only the second Quaker women’s swimmer to qualify for multiple NCAA Championships. On the men’s side, Ferguson assisted Mark Andrew as he earned All-America honors with an eighth-place NCAA finish in the 400 IM after he won Ivy League titles in the 200 breast and the 400 IM.
Ferguson arrived at Penn after coaching the 2017-18 season at Marshall University, where she was the primary coach of the middle distance and sprint groups. Marshall matched its highest team finish at Conference USA Championship (third). Highlights of the season included guiding the breakout season and first top-3 finish for Jordyn O’Dell and assisting in the coaching of the Conference USA champion in the 200 IM, Catherine Bendziewicz.
Ferguson began her college coaching career at her alma mater, Penn State University. During three years coaching the Nittany Lions, Ferguson assisted with 2016 Irish Olympian Shane Ryan and U.S. National Team member Ally McHugh. Other roles included chairing Alumni relations and fundraising events, as well as Director of Penn State Swimming Sport Camps.
Growing up in Mamaroneck, N.Y., Ferguson began her coaching career with the nationally renowned Badger Swim Club. While working with the Elite Senior Team, she coached a variety of swimmers ranging from sectional qualifiers to Olympic Trials qualifiers. She served as head coach for the Badger Swim Club at USA Junior Nationals.
As an athlete Ferguson was a multiple time Olympic Trial qualifier (2004, 2008) in the 100 & 200 backstroke. Her top finish was 17th at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. A Penn State graduate in Kinesiology, Ferguson was a member of the Nittany Lions’ 2006 Big Ten championship team and earned All-America honors.
