Phil Baretela enters his eighth season as head coach of RIT’s swimming and diving programs in 2025–26. Since taking over in 2018, he has led the Tigers to historic success, including four consecutive Liberty League men’s team titles and numerous NCAA qualifiers.
Under Baretela’s leadership, RIT swimmers have broken 33 of 38 school records. His teams consistently excel both athletically and academically, earning CSCAA Team Academic All-America honors for seven straight seasons.
Prior to becoming head coach, Baretela spent 12 years as an assistant at RIT, working extensively with sprinters and mentoring multiple All-Americans. He also coached at Monroe Community College, contributing to six NJCAA national titles, and directed the Golden Comets Swim Club, developing swimmers who qualified for USA Swimming national and Olympic trials.
A 1994 graduate of SUNY Cortland with a degree in criminology, Baretela was a standout sprinter and part of Cortland’s 1993 SUNYAC championship team. He retired from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office after 21 years of service and resides in Chili, N.Y., with his wife Holly and their family.
Season Highlights
2024–25
- Men’s team won its fourth straight Liberty League title.
- 10 Tigers qualified for NCAA Championships.
- Maddi Williams, Gellert Kish, and Luke Albanese: NCAA All-American
- Gellert Kish: Liberty League Diver of the Year, Liberty League Championships Men’s Diver of the Meet
- Drew Scheib: Liberty League Swimmer of the Year, Liberty League Championships Men’s Swimmer of the Meet, CSC Academic All-America Third Team selection
- Josh Berty: Liberty League Rookie of the Year
- Coaching staff named Liberty League Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
- Both teams earned CSCAA Team Academic All-America honors.
2023–24
- Men’s team won third straight Liberty League title.
- Five Tigers qualified for NCAA Championships.
- Anna Peshenko: NCAA qualifier (third straight year), Honorable Mention All-American, Liberty League Swimmer of the Year.
- Maddi Williams & Luke Albanese: NCAA diving qualifiers, Honorable Mention All-Americans.
- Gellert Kish: Liberty League Diver of the Year, NCAA All-American.
- Drew Scheib: NCAA Honorable Mention All-American, set school & Liberty League record in 100 butterfly.
- Coaching staff named Liberty League Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
- Both teams earned CSCAA Team Academic All-America honors.
2022–23
- Men’s team won second consecutive Liberty League title.
- Peshenko: NCAA qualifier, Liberty League Co-Swimmer of the Year.
- Mike Atanasoff: Liberty League Swimmer of the Year, NCAA qualifier, set multiple records.
- Scheib: NCAA All-American in 200 butterfly.
- Kish: Liberty League Diver of the Year.
- Coaching staff named Liberty League Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
- Both teams earned CSCAA Team Academic All-America honors.
2021–22
- Men’s team won first Liberty League title in program history.
- Peshenko: NCAA qualifier, Liberty League Swimmer of the Year.
- Kish: Liberty League Diver of the Year.
- Multiple school and Liberty League records set in relays and individual events.
- Coaching staff named Liberty League Men’s & Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
- Both teams earned CSCAA Team Academic All-America honors.
Earlier Seasons
- 2019–20: Women’s team went 10–0 in dual meets; men 8–1. Coaching staff named Liberty League Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
- 2018–19: Women’s team posted a perfect 10–0 dual meet record; Sedera Zbranak earned All-America honors at NCAA Championships.
