Men's Swimming | 4/3/2023 6:00:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Bloomsburg University Director of Athletics, Dr. Michael McFarland, announced Monday evening the hiring of Bridget Hilferty as the next head coach of the Bloomsburg men's and women's swimming teams. Joining Hilferty on staff is former All-American Eric Usbeck, as the program's new assistant coach.
 
Hilferty takes over as the head coach after serving as the assistant under coach Stu Marvin for the last 10 years. Coach Marvin recently announced his retirement and Coach Hilferty is set to begin her head coaching tenure on June 3.
 
"We are thrilled to announce Bridget as the new head coach for both the men's and women's swimming programs at Bloomsburg," said Bashar W. Hanna, president. "As an assistant coach, she's been instrumental in the team's success over the last decade. With her passion, experience, and commitment to Bloomsburg, I do not doubt she will lead our student-athletes to great success in and out of the pool."
 
"I am excited that Bridget will be taking the helm of our swimming program," said Dr. Diana Rogers-Adkinson, Senior Vice President and Provost. "She has a strong history with Bloomsburg and is ready for this next step."
 
"I am extremely grateful to be named the next head coach of the Huskies," remarked Coach Hilferty. "It is a dream come true to lead the team I once swam for. I am very excited to start this new journey. Still, first, I want to thank Dr. McFarland for the opportunity to follow in coach Stu Marvin's footsteps and continue the legacy of success and excellence he built over the last 15 years on deck."
 
During her first 10 years as a coach, Hilferty oversaw the distance program while handling academic strategies, counseling for student-athletes, coordinating community service initiatives, and fundraising. She also assists the Athletic Department with Title IX Compliance initiatives.
 
Under her guidance, the distance programs reached new levels of prominence in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and DII swimming.
 
On the women's side, she guided a trio of sophomores to 21-lifetime bests in the pool, culminating with Maddie Osanitsch earning a pair of top-eight finishes and a pair of top-16 finishes at the PSAC championships in 2022. In 2021, Hilferty coached Chelsea Ackerson to her first two PSAC championships and, in 2020, guided Becca Cubbler to her first individual PSAC championship in 200 free. Several of her swimmers earned invites to the NCAA Championships, including Cubbler (2017, 2019, 2020), Brooke Gilson (2014, 2017), Carolyn Hodgins (2015), and Karly Hursey (2017). Gilson (2014), Hodgins (2015), and Cubbler (2019, 2020) were all named NCAA All-American.
 
This past season, freshman Rylee Wenzel (West Lawn, PA/Wilson High School) was named the PSAC Women's Freshman Swimmer of the Year after a standout performance in the pool for the Huskies. She led Bloomsburg with six All-Conference honors in her first season, with two individual nods and four relay accolades. She also set the program's 100-yard freestyle record (51.23) at the PSAC Championships.
 
On the men's side, The Huskies have set team records in the 500 free, 1000 free, and 1650 free over the last 10 seasons. Many of her swimmers have qualified for the A Final at the PSAC Championships, along with several B Finals. Eight of her swimmers have 19 times on the BU All-Time Top-10 list.
 
The 2021-22 season was highly successful for the distance program. Junior Luke Scoboria (Birdsboro, PA/Exeter) posted 10 lifetime personal best performances in a career season. He capped it by grabbing four A Finals at the PSAC championships in the 200, 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyle. He also contributed to the Huskies' second-place finish in the 800-free relay. Scoboria's performances were the best by a men's distance swimmer during Hilferty's tenure. 
 
In the 2020-21 season, many of Hilferty's distance swimmers excelled at the PSAC Championships. Scoboria totaled 43 points at the PSAC Championships while gaining two Top-Eight swims and two more in the Top-16. Sophomore Jimmy Greek (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) added another 44 points in achieving three Top-Eight and one Top-16 performance. Hilferty's distance team was instrumental in helping the Huskies win their first-ever PSAC Championship in program history.
  
As a four-year performer for the Huskies, Hilferty was a dominant force in the distance freestyle events, earning NCAA All-American honors in the 1000 free and 1650 free in 2012. She was a perennial top-eight finalist at the conference championships and was a key performer during dual meet competitions. Hilferty is ranked in BU's all-time top 10 in the 1650 free (fifth), 500 free (fifth), 200 free (sixth), and 1000 free (sixth). She was twice named the BU Swimmer of the Year (2011, 2012) and was a two-time team captain (2012, 2013).
 
Hilferty is a 2013 graduate of Bloomsburg University and earned her master's degree in education in college student affairs in the spring of 2022.
 
"There are no words to describe the impact that Stu not only had on me but the entire Bloomsburg swimming and athletic family," continued Hilferty. "He will be greatly missed but is always welcome on the pool deck!"
 
"I am excited to announce Bridget as our next head coach and to announce the return of Eric Usbeck and his family back to Bloomsburg and Nelson Field House," remarked Dr. McFarland. "Bridget has done a tremendous job with the program as a BU swimmer and assistant over the last 14 years. I am confident that Eric's return to the pool in a coaching role here at Nelson will continue the excellent foundation laid by retiring coach Stu Marvin."
 
"I am thrilled to welcome Eric, his wife Kelly, and their daughter Lily back to the Bloomsburg family," commented Hilferty. "He was a tremendous competitor as a swimmer at Bloomsburg and has proven himself as a terrific coach during his time at Misericordia and, most recently, Millersville."
 
Usbeck returns to Bloomsburg after a four-year stint as the head coach of a fellow PSAC institution, Millersville, and two years as the assistant at Misericordia.
 
"I would like to thank Dr. McFarland for the opportunity to return to my alma mater as a coach," remarked Usbeck. "My wife, an alum as well, is also excited to bring our daughter closer to home."
 
During his four years with Millersville, Usbeck led the Marauders to a new level of success. He set the program's best dual meet record for any head coach and guided Millersville to its best finish at the PSAC Championship in three-straight seasons – eighth in 2020-21, 2021-22, and seventh in 2022-23. The Marauders' 534 points in 2022-23 were the highest point total for Millersville at a PSAC championship event.
 
Before Millersville, Usbeck spent two seasons at Misericordia as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He helped the Cougars to a fourth-place finish at the MAC Championships in 2019. In addition to his experience at Misericordia, Usbeck served as a camp counselor at the University at Buffalo and a swim coach for the Greater Scranton YMCA for three years.
 
As a swimmer at Bloomsburg, Usbeck was an All-PSAC performer 19 times and a five-time PSAC Champion. He was voted team MVP and was the winner of the Robert B. Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year award in 2017. He was a three-time recipient of Bloomsburg's Dave Gibas Award. He earned All-America honors in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays and the 200-yard medley relay. He was an honorable mention All-American in the 100-yard breaststroke and two relays as a senior. Usbeck set four Bloomsburg and PSAC records as part of relay teams. 
 
Usbeck is a 2017 graduate of Bloomsburg University and earned his graduate degree in organizational management from Misericordia in 2019.