Pitt Hires Austin Pillado as Associate Head Coach
The University of Pittsburgh this week announced the hiring of Austin Pillado as associate head coach of the swimming and diving team.
He joins the rebuilt staff of Director of Swimming and Diving Katie Kasparzak and head coach Ian Walsh.
“I would like to thank Katie Kasprzak, Ian Walsh, Blaire Ford, and the rest of the Pitt family for this opportunity,” Pillado said in a press release. “From the initial conversations to the moment I stepped on campus, it was clear that Pitt has set out to create the best model for the program to foster an athlete-centered environment in the pool, the classroom, and the Pittsburgh community. Pitt Swimming & Diving is hungry to continue its rise through the ACC and NCAA ranks as well as on the international stage as we look toward LA 2028 and beyond. I am looking forward to building on the success of the program while recruiting student-athletes who want to be part of the strong family atmosphere here. Exciting things are happening in Pittsburgh and I cannot wait to help this program continue to thrive. Hail to Pitt!”
Pillado was an assistant coach for Washington State in 2024-25, then elevated to associate head coach the following year. The Cougars women’s team compiled a 15-0 dual meet record in those seasons, with 14 Mountain West champions, 29 school records and two All-Americans. It was the first time Washington State had multiple All-Americans in the same NCAAs.
Pillado was an assistant at Arizona State’s men’s NCAA championship in 2023-24, where he also worked with the professional group. He was an assistant coach with the Swedish national team at the 2022 European Championships.
A volunteer assistant for three seasons at Texas A&M, his first full coaching job was as an assistant at Saginaw Valley State in 2020-21. The Florida native swam at Davis and Elkins College, graduating in 2017 with a degree in sports management and athletic training. He added a master’s degree in sports management from Texas A&M.
“Austin Pillado is an incredible addition to our staff,” Kasprzak said. “He brings experience at the highest level of the sport from his time with an NCAA Championship-winning program to coaching athletes on the international stage. As a sprint coach, his technical expertise in the pool is exceptional, but what sets Austin apart is the genuine relationships he builds with his student-athletes. His passion and athlete-centered approach make him exactly what we were looking for in an associate head coach. We are excited to welcome him to the Pitt family.”
“We are thrilled to have Austin join our program as associate head coach,” Walsh said. “Katie and I have prioritized finding the right individuals for our staff that will not only bring talent and expertise to the pool deck, but also passion for serving our student-athletes in the highest capacity. Austin checks every box. His experience and success at the highest level of our sport, combined with his reputation for developing the whole person, makes him an outstanding fit for our program. We look forward to sharing the deck with him and welcoming him to Pittsburgh!”
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