Women's Swimming & Diving
Lauren Cassano
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- lauren.cassano@mail.wvu.edu
- Phone:
- (304) 293-8581
Lauren Cassano spent two seasons as the women’s associate head coach with West Virginia University’s swimming and diving team.
During her time with the program, the Mountaineers had great success in the pool and the classroom.
Sophomores Mia Cheatwood and Abigail Sullivan competed at the 2024 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. Sullivan became the first female WVU diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships in any event since 1984 and the first female diver from WVU to qualify on the women's platform.
Four women’s swimming and diving team members were named to the College Sports Communicators 2023-24 Academic All-District Team: Cheatwood, Sullivan, Sarah Krusinski and Ada Szwabinska.
The women’s swimming and diving team placed sixth at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships and placed fourth at the 2023 conference championship. West Virginia was named a Scholar All-America team by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) in 2023 and 2024.
Under her guidance, a pool record and long-standing school record fell as she helped develop an NEC Rookie and multiple NEC Players of the Week.
While coaching at SFU, Cassano oversaw the progression and execution of the sprint and distance individual medley training groups working on the development of body mechanics for maintaining shoulder health, increasing mobility and overall strength.
The Red Flash maintained their success in the classroom as well. As a team, the swimmers held a GPA of 3.5 for the year, with eight women achieving a 4.0 GPA. SFU swimming was awarded the highest percentage of athletes on the Northeast Conference (NEC) Honor Roll with 88.4% as well as a continued 100% graduation rate.
While there, Cassano signed six incoming highly ranked freshmen, built up the recruiting platform, assisted with travel plans, meet organization and team budgets.
Prior to SFU, Cassano was the assistant swim coach at Allegheny College for two seasons.
While there, the Gators achieved their highest North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) standing in recent years for both the women and men, finishing third and sixth, respectively. The women broke the 400-yard freestyle relay record and multiple athletes were named NCAC Athlete of the Week.
Academically, the men and women Gators achieved high honors, 3.5 and 3.7 GPA, respectively. Ten athletes were named to the 2020 Honor Roll and a total of 16 for 2021.
Cassano contributed with roles in recruitment, fundraising and the organization of Learn to Swim.
Before entering into the collegiate level of swim coaching, Cassano spent four years as a strength and conditioning coach with UPMC Sports Performance under the direction of one of the top sports performance experts, who has worked with numerous Division I and professional athletes.
Cassano oversaw the evaluation, production, progression, and execution of all training plans for high school prospects and collegiate-level athletic training. This included training for top performance, injury prevention and return to play.
Lauren graduated from Grove City College in 2015 as a decorated student-athlete with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science.
Ranked 10th in NCAA Division III, she earned four-time All-American consideration, was a four-year letter winner, four-year All-Conference and President Athletic Conference (PAC) Champion in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke and a two-time PAC Champion 200 IM.
She broke school records in the 100 and 200 backstroke, contributed to the 400-yard medley relay school record as well as the pool records for the 200 freestyle and medley relays.
Cassano was named a captain in her senior season.
During her time with the program, the Mountaineers had great success in the pool and the classroom.
Sophomores Mia Cheatwood and Abigail Sullivan competed at the 2024 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. Sullivan became the first female WVU diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships in any event since 1984 and the first female diver from WVU to qualify on the women's platform.
Four women’s swimming and diving team members were named to the College Sports Communicators 2023-24 Academic All-District Team: Cheatwood, Sullivan, Sarah Krusinski and Ada Szwabinska.
The women’s swimming and diving team placed sixth at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships and placed fourth at the 2023 conference championship. West Virginia was named a Scholar All-America team by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) in 2023 and 2024.
Prior to West Virginia
Cassano spent the 2021-22 season as the assistant swim coach at Saint Francis University.Under her guidance, a pool record and long-standing school record fell as she helped develop an NEC Rookie and multiple NEC Players of the Week.
While coaching at SFU, Cassano oversaw the progression and execution of the sprint and distance individual medley training groups working on the development of body mechanics for maintaining shoulder health, increasing mobility and overall strength.
The Red Flash maintained their success in the classroom as well. As a team, the swimmers held a GPA of 3.5 for the year, with eight women achieving a 4.0 GPA. SFU swimming was awarded the highest percentage of athletes on the Northeast Conference (NEC) Honor Roll with 88.4% as well as a continued 100% graduation rate.
While there, Cassano signed six incoming highly ranked freshmen, built up the recruiting platform, assisted with travel plans, meet organization and team budgets.
Prior to SFU, Cassano was the assistant swim coach at Allegheny College for two seasons.
While there, the Gators achieved their highest North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) standing in recent years for both the women and men, finishing third and sixth, respectively. The women broke the 400-yard freestyle relay record and multiple athletes were named NCAC Athlete of the Week.
Academically, the men and women Gators achieved high honors, 3.5 and 3.7 GPA, respectively. Ten athletes were named to the 2020 Honor Roll and a total of 16 for 2021.
Cassano contributed with roles in recruitment, fundraising and the organization of Learn to Swim.
Before entering into the collegiate level of swim coaching, Cassano spent four years as a strength and conditioning coach with UPMC Sports Performance under the direction of one of the top sports performance experts, who has worked with numerous Division I and professional athletes.
Cassano oversaw the evaluation, production, progression, and execution of all training plans for high school prospects and collegiate-level athletic training. This included training for top performance, injury prevention and return to play.
Lauren graduated from Grove City College in 2015 as a decorated student-athlete with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science.
Ranked 10th in NCAA Division III, she earned four-time All-American consideration, was a four-year letter winner, four-year All-Conference and President Athletic Conference (PAC) Champion in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke and a two-time PAC Champion 200 IM.
She broke school records in the 100 and 200 backstroke, contributed to the 400-yard medley relay school record as well as the pool records for the 200 freestyle and medley relays.
Cassano was named a captain in her senior season.
S&D: West Virginia State Games Recap
Tuesday, October 07
S&D: Gold-Blue Meet Recap
Tuesday, September 23
S&D: One Word to Describe the First Official Day of Practice
Friday, September 12
2025 Big 12 Hype Video
Wednesday, March 12
