Aug. 16, 2001

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence College announced today the hiring of Michelle Gacio as head men's and women's swimming and diving coach. Gacio replaces John O'Neill, who served as coach for the last 17 years.

Gacio comes to Providence College after serving as the Assistant Men's and Women's Swimming Coach at Florida State University during the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons. At Florida State, she coached both the men and women in all training groups, supervised graduate assistants, managers and student assistants on the deck and recruited national and Olympic-caliber student-athletes from around the United States and the world.

Prior to working at Florida State, Gacio spent two seasons as the women's assistant swimming coach at Ohio State University. At Ohio State, she coached all training groups and recruited student-athletes to the University.

Before going to Ohio State, Gacio worked as the assistant and then the head coach of the Florida Aquatic Swim Team. Gacio was responsible for the organization and leadership of 200 members. She created workouts and training schedules for swimmers of all ages while working with both the head men's and women's swim coaches from the University of Florida.

A 1996 graduate from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration, Gacio swam at Florida from 1991 through 1995. She received her Master's Degree in Exercise and Sport Science in 1998 from Florida. Gacio was an All-American Swimmer at the University of Florida in the 400 IM in 1993. She was an Olympic Trial Consolation Finalist in the 200 IM in 1992 and was a member of four Southeastern Conference Championships in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and a member of the NCAA Championship runner-up team in 1993 and 1994.

Gacio will assume her duties as Providence's new Swim Coach beginning August 31st.