Andrew Bretscher

Andrew Bretscher enters his second season as the head coach of the Norwich University men's and women's swimming & diving programs in 2015-16.

In his first season at Norwich Bretscher led the team to eight new school records, a fourth-straight GNAC Invitational title and another third place finish at NEISDA's on the men's side.

Bretscher comes to Norwich following a three-year stint as a graduate assistant at Frostburg State in Maryland while also working on his master’s degree in Wildlife Biology. He succeeds Laura Dunn who served as the head swimming and diving coach for last six seasons.

In his first two seasons at Frostburg, Bretscher helped both programs to seventh and sixth-place finishes at the Capital Athletic Conference Championships, while the women’s 200-yard medley relay team (1:57.12) broke the oldest school record in the process in 2013.

In 2013-14, the men’s and women’s squads both produced their highest point totals since joining the CAC. The same women’s 200-yard medley relay team quartet broke its own record again this past February with a 1:55.16 to place fourth. Bretscher helped guide the FSU women to seven wins, while both the men's and women's squads earned sixth place at the CAC Championships. Frostburg capped the 2013-14 season with a representative from both the men's and women's teams qualifying for the ECAC Championships for the first time in over five years. During Bretscher’s tenure, the women’s team has established three new varsity records.

Bretscher graduated from The Ohio State University in June 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism. As a member of the varsity swim team, Bretscher earned NCAA All-American honors three times and was named an All-Big Ten Second Team honoree. At one time, he held OSU school records in the 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. He also qualified to compete in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 butterfly.

Prior to Ohio State, Bretscher was a member of the 2007 Auburn University National Champion squad as a freshman.

Bretscher is also one of only six recipients nationwide of the prestigious Jean Freeman Scholarship, which is given annually to a male and a female assistant coach in each NCAA division whose exceptional contributions have brought recognition to their college or university, and whose leadership, integrity, honesty, competitive attitude and personal graciousness epitomizes those characteristics reflected by Jean Freeman.

The scholarship provides each of the six selected assistant coaches with the convention fee, transportation and lodging to the annual CSCAA Convention and Clinic held this year in Las Vegas, Nev.