Arthur Albiero
	Position: Head Coach Experience: 9th season Alma Mater: Oakland University

Cardinal swimming and diving has found the perfect combination of visionary and architect in head coach Arthur Albiero. In his ninth season as swim coach at the University of Louisville, the Cardinals remain confident they have the right man at the helm as the Cardinals continue to shine in the national spotlight.

In 2011-12, Albiero led the Cardinals to giddy new heights. He coached the women to a BIG EAST Championship. In all, 30 Cards were named to the men's and women's All-BIG EAST squad. The men finished as BIG EAST runners-up but sent a record number 13 swimmers to the NCAA National Championship in Federal Way, Washington. There, the Cardinals celebrated their first-ever national champion when Carlos Almeida won the 200-breast. after being edged in the 100-breast by the blink of an eye. The men finished an unprecedented ninth in the field and College Swimming Awards named them the Male Break-out Team of the Year. The women made a strong showing at the NCAAs as well, notching its first A-final for Gisselle Kohoyda. After the NCAA, Albiero was named as the coach for Portugal's swim team for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Cardinals sent four swimmers to the Olympics, Eszter Povazsay (Hungary), Joao De Lucca (Brazil), Carlos Almeida (Portugal) and Pedro Oliveira (Portugal). The cherry on top of all this success was being named National Coach of the Year.

In 2010-11, Albiero led both squads to the BIG EAST crown including the women's first ever conference championship. The meet, held in the Ralph Wright Natatorium was a showcase for Cardinal swimming. He earned BIG EAST Coach of the year for the third straight year. He sent a total of seven athletes to the NCAA Championship. In another first, U of L sent it's first diver to the NCAA Finals when Hannah Gadd emerged from the NCAA Zones to advance. Highlights of the NCAA's included Carlos Almeida's third place finish in the 100-breast and a fifth in the 200-breast. In all, seven Cardinals came away with All-American honors. Albiero accompanied Carlos Almeida when he made his third appearance for Portugal at the FINA World Championships, this time in Shanghai, China. Albiero also oversaw U of L's Joao De Lucca, who anchored the 4x100 relay team for Brazil. Pedro Oliveira and Eszter Povazsay represented the Cardinals at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.

In 2009-10, Albiero led the men to their first-ever BIG EAST championship and earned BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors. A record number of men and women qualified for the NCAAs and nine of them earned All-American honors. Carlos Almeida's fifth place in the 200 breast at the NCAA Champions was a benchmark for the program. As success breeds success, Albiero amassed the No. 12 ranked recruiting class in the nation. The Cardinals performed in the classroom as well, highlighted when sprinter Liz Halet became the first-ever athlete of any sport to earn a Fulbright Scholarship. Carlos Almeida and Pedro Oliveira competed at the European Championships that summer and Eszter Povazsay earned a berth on the Hungarian national team.

In 2008-09, Albiero was named BIG EAST Coach of the ships for the Cardinals when she scored in the 400-IM. Then Albiero sent nine swimmers to the US Olympic trials right before leaving for Beijing.

In 2006-07, the Cardinals set 23 new school records, made 22 NCAA B-cuts, three World University Game participants and a FINA World Championships finalist who earned an Olympic berth for Beijing. Vali Preda was an NCAA finalist after the men's team finished third at the BIG EAST, the highest ever finish. And the success didn't just come in the water, both men and women's teams made CSCAA Academic All-American status. In the summer of 2007, he accompanied Preda and Adam Madarassy to the European Championships where Preda finished 21st and set a new national record for Romania.

In 2005-06, the Cardinals shone under his tutelage. In the inaugural season in the BIG EAST, the Cardinals had three swimmers win a total of five races and the team set 18 school records. Freshman Vali Preda was a three-time BIG EAST champion and qualified for the NCAA Finals in three events. He swam two, finishing 13th in the 200-breast and helped U of L to a final national team ranking of No. 41. In the summer of 200 6, he accompanied Preda to the World Championships in Melbourne, where he finished 21st.

In 2004-05, Albiero helped the Cardinals to 32 school records and an unprecedented outstanding performance at the Conference USA Championship. The men finished second, a school record best, and the women improved two spots from the previous year for fourth. In 2005, U of L had Adam Madarassy who was the Swimmer of the Meet win three individual races and help the men win the 800-free relay. He set nine school records. Amanda Taylor set seven school records, won the 400-IM and was named Freshman Swimmer of the Year. Diver Robbie Lewis swept all three diving evens, setting school records and being named Diver of the Meet. The men ended up ranked No. 27 in the nation. In 2004, U of L had three conference champions with Kleber Ihara, Heather Meng and diver Sean Wilkinson (platform and 1-M) each winning their events.

Albiero worked closely with the architects of the Ralph Wright Natatorium. He oversaw the construction and design of the state-of-the-art home venue as the Cards entered the highly competitive BIG EAST Conference.

Prior to U of L, Albiero came to Louisville via the University of Alabama. He spent four years as an assistant for the University of Alabama and was named the associate head coach at UA for 2001-03.

In 2002-03, the Tide's men had their highest national finish since 1994, taking 12th place after a fifth place finish at the SEC Championships. The women posted their highest finish since 1996, taking 15th place in the NCAA meet after a fourth place finish at the SEC Championships.

And Albiero knows winning. He helped coach Stefan Gherghel, who became the first Alabama swimmer to repeat as NCAA Champion. Gherghel, a 2000 Olympian, won his second consecutive NCAA in the 200-butterfly with a school record. Gherghel's title in 2001 marked the Tide's first swimming NCAA title since 1983. He swam in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Albiero also coached Anne Poleska and Vlad Polyakov at Alabama. Poleska was the NCAA runner-up in the 200-breast and in 2002, she set a new German record for the 200-breaststroke at the World Championships in Barcelona where she placed fourth. She was a bronze medalist in Athens in the 2004 Olympics. Polyakov was runner-up in the 200-breaststroke at the NCAAs as a freshman.

Albiero is credited with being an integral part of the rebuilding of the Alabama swimming and diving program. During his tenure, the Tide returned to the Top 20.

"One of my strengths is my relationship with the athlete. I am demanding but reasonable. I believe that you must enjoy the process of preparation," says Albiero.

"We have a great situation here: a great coaching staff and a fast pool which has brought a new attitude and created momentum for this program that has transformed U of L into a nationally recognized program," said Albiero.

A successful swimmer himself, Albiero was an 18-time All-American swimmer for Oakland University where he helped lead the Pioneers to three straight NCAA Division II team titles. He also earned three NCAA titles and was a Scholastic All-American three of those years.

"I believe you have to have fun to swim fast," said Albiero. "My main goal is to continue to establish a practice environment that is highly conducive to excellence in the classroom and the pool."

After graduation from Oakland in 1996 with a bachelor's in psychology with a minor in exercise physiology, he joined the staff at Kenyon College, a perennial powerhouse in Division III. During his three years at the helm, the Lords and Ladies of Kenyon won six national championships, three for the men and three for the women. Albiero also coached at the club level, working with the Oakland Live Y'ers in Michigan as well as running Oakland's Swim Camp and the Total Performance Swim Camp. He received a Masters Degree in Human Performance Studies - Exercise Physiology from Alabama in 2002.

Albiero is married to the former Amy Comerford, a former standout swimmer at Oakland. The couple has three children, Estefan, Nicolas, and Gabriela.

• 2012-13 Season
• Roster | Schedule | School Records
• Media Guide

• 2011-12 Season
• Roster | Schedule | Media Guide
• Men's Top Times | Women's Top Times

• Media
• Wallpaper

• Miscellaneous
• Coach Arthur Albiero | Camp Information
• Ralph Wright Natatorium
• Lap Swim Schedule, Fees & Contact Info
• Swimming & Diving Alumni | Donor Questionnaire
• U of L Athletics Alumni Update
• Olympics Photo Gallery

• Recruiting Information
• Recruiting Form | Sports Performance Highlights

• Contact Information
• Arthur Albiero
  502-852-8848 - arthur.albiero@louisville.edu