Commander Sean M. Tedesco completed his 25th season as head coach of the United States Merchant Marine Academy men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams during the 2025-26 season. Over a quarter of a century at Kings Point, Tedesco has built one of the most successful and consistent NCAA Division III swimming and diving programs in the country, establishing a culture defined by competitive excellence, academic achievement, leadership, and service.
Under Tedesco’s leadership, the Mariners have become a perennial national contender. His teams have qualified and competed at NCAA Division III Championships in 22 of the last 24 opportunities, producing 81 NCAA qualifiers who have achieved 239 NCAA qualifying standards. His student-athletes have earned 96 All-American certificates, including two NCAA National Champions who combined for five individual national titles, eight NCAA national runner-up finishes, three NCAA Divers of the Year, three National Diving Coach of the Year honors, and one national record. One of his most accomplished swimmers, Kevin Lindgren ’15, became the Academy’s first swimmer to qualify for two U.S. Olympic Trials.
Conference success has become the hallmark of Tedesco’s tenure. His teams have captured 37 conference championships, including 27 Skyline Conference titles, nine Landmark Conference championships, and the program’s first Metropolitan Conference Championship since 1986. The men’s program has remained one of Division III’s model programs for sustained success, while the women’s program has consistently ranked among the conference’s elite, reflecting Tedesco’s ability to build championship cultures across multiple conferences and generations of student-athletes.
Equally impressive has been the development of his student-athletes beyond competition. Since arriving at Kings Point in 2001, his teams have earned 22 CSCAA Team Academic All-America Awards and 31 Individual Academic All-America honors while producing numerous conference major award winners, including 76 Conference Swimmer/Diver of the Year recipients, 28 Conference Rookie of the Year selections, 14 Academy Rookie of the Year honorees, seven Admiral Giles C. Stedman Trophy winners, and six Julie A. Berke Trophy recipients, the Academy’s highest athletic honors.
Tedesco’s impact on the Academy extends well beyond the pool. Since 2014, he has served as Assistant Athletic Director for Aquatics while also serving as the PE&A STCW Coordinator, Professional Faculty Instructor, and a member of the Faculty Forum Executive Committee, including service as both President and First Vice President. He is also a commissioned Commander in the United States Maritime Service, reflecting his longstanding commitment to leadership, education, and service to the maritime profession.
During his tenure, Tedesco's teams have amassed 354 dual-meet victories while rewriting the Academy record book, breaking or re-breaking school records 332 times and establishing 359 conference, meet, and pool records. His success has been recognized with 37 Conference Coach of the Year awards across the Skyline, Landmark, and Metropolitan Conferences, along with multiple United States Merchant Marine Academy Coach of the Year honors.
Before arriving at Kings Point, Tedesco served as the top assistant coach at Villanova University, where he coached an Olympian, multiple Olympic Trial qualifiers, an NCAA Champion, and numerous NCAA qualifiers.
A standout student-athlete himself, Tedesco competed at the University of Connecticut, where he was a two-time Most Valuable Swimmer, NCAA Division I qualifier, Big East Champion, Senior National qualifier, and recipient of the University’s Senior Athlete Award.
Following his collegiate career, he earned Triathlete All-American honors on multiple occasions and completed both the Wisconsin and New York City Ironman triathlons.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and his MBA from Adelphi University.
For more than two decades, Tedesco has distinguished himself as one of Division III’s premier coaches by consistently developing championship-caliber teams, nationally recognized student-athletes, and graduates who excel in competition, the classroom, military service, and leadership long after leaving Kings Point.
Tedesco currently resides in Garden City, N.Y., with his wife Marissa and their daughters, Abigail and Amanda.
Tedesco's Coaching Highlights (2001-02 to 2025-26)
(25 seasons; 2020-21 season canceled due to COVID-19)
- One Olympic Trial Cut
- Two National Champions (5 individual championships)
- 29 All-Americans
- 96 All-American Certificates
- 81 NCAA Qualifiers
- 239 NCAA Qualifying Standards
- 22 NCAA Trips in 24 years
- 15 straight trips to the NCAA Championships (’02-’16)
- 18 Top 37 Finishes at the NCAA Championship in 24 years (’20-canceled-seeded 14th/’21 canceled)
- 332 Broken Academy Records
- 359 Broken Conference/Meet/Pool Records
- 22 Team Academic All-American Certificates
- 31 Individual Academic All-American Certificates
- 37 Conference Championships-27 Skyline Conference Championships (15 men/12 women), 9 Landmark Championships (men) and 1 Met Championship (men)
- 8 NCAA National Runner-ups
- 3 National Diver of the Year
- 3 National Diving Coach of the Year
- 1 National Record
- 2 Swims under the National Record
- 37 Coach of the Year Awards
- 76 Conference Swimmer/Diver of the Year Awards
- 28 Conference Rookie of the Year Awards
- 14 Academy Rookie of the Year Awards
- 7 Admiral Giles C. Stedman Trophy Winners (Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year Award)-Academy’s Highest Award
- 6 Julie A. Berke Trophy Winners (Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year Award)-Academy’s Highest Award
- 354 Wins (180 men / 174 women)
