Jeanne Fleck, Head Coach Swimming & Diving at Fresno State University
Jeanne Fleck is in her 11th season leading the Fresno State Swimming & Diving program in 2018-19. She was named head coach in 2008 as the program was reinstated and her teams have shined both in the pool and in the classroom throughout her first decade leading the team.
The Bulldogs have broken and rebroken 18 of the 20 individual program records and all five relay records under Fleck's leadership. Fresno State has also earned the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for 10 consecutive semesters, with the team recording a 3.00 or better GPA for five straight years.
In 2017-18 the Bulldogs broke seven individual program records and three team relay records. Manuela Mendolicchio became a Mountain West champion as she claimed the gold medal in the 200 Breaststroke, helping lead the 'Dogs to a 7th place finish in the conference meet. Mendolicchio earned All-MW honors in both the 100 and 200 Breast while swimmers Zofia Niemczak, Kimberly Harbert, and Ugne Mazutaityte also were named All-MW while all three of the team's divers - Serena Sedillo, Irina Nikolaeva, and Kelli Funk - were also All-MW honorees and all qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving meet.
As a freshman Niemzcak broke program records in the 100 Fly, 200 Fly, and 500 Free and placed third in the 200 Fly at the MW Championships. Fresno State had six dual wins during the regular season, including victories over New Mexico, San Diego, San Jose State, and CSU Bakersfield. After the season Senor Katelin Britton earned the Dean's Medal for the Jordan College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, signifying her as the most outstanding student among all undergraduates in the college. Funk received CSCAA Scholar All-America honorable mention.
In her ninth season as Fresno State’s head swimming and diving coach, Fleck led the Bulldogs to a 6-2 dual meet record. Fresno State recorded wins over Bakersfield, Pacific, Santa Cruz, Cal State East Bay and San Jose State. Fresno State’s win over San Jose State marked the Bulldogs first win over the Spartans in 14 years, and the first in Fleck’s career at Fresno State.
At the 2017 Mountain West Championships, Fresno State finished in seventh place with 524 points. Sophomore Ugne Mazutaityte defended her titles in the 200 Backstroke, bringing home a gold medal. Senior Esme Gullick won the bronze medal in the 200 Butterfly, breaking the Fresno State record in that event. Mazutaityte finished fourth in the 100 Backstroke breaking the Fresno State record in that event. Diver Shelbie Holden took fifth place on the Platform. Shelbie Holden, Kelli Funk and Serena Sedillo qualified for NCAA Zone Diving Championships on all three boards.
Mazutaityte was named to the 2017 Mountain West All-Conference team for the 100 and 200 Backstroke. Esme Gullick was named to the 2017 Mountain West All-Conference team for the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 Butterfly. Shelbie Holden was named to the 2017 Mountain West All-Conference team for her performance on the Platform. Freshman Manuela Mendolicchio broke the Fresno State record for the 100 Breaststroke at the A3 Performance Invitational on Nov. 19.
In 2015-16 the Bulldogs finished with a 5-3 dual meet record with wins over Oregon, State, Pacific, Santa Cruz, Fresno Pacific and CSU Bakersfield. At the 2016 Mountain West Championships, Fresno State finished 10th with 182 points.
Freshman standout Ugne Mazutaityte won the gold medal in the 200 Backstroke and broke the Fresno State record. Mazutaityte’s gold medal was Fresno State’s first gold medal since Dani Yoho won the 50 Freestyle in 2013. Mazutaityte took home the bronze medal in the 100 Backstroke, breaking another Fresno State record. She was also the first 'Dog to medal in two individual swimming events in a conference championship since the program returned in 2008.
After leading the Bulldogs on the boards all season, junior Shelbie Holden qualified for NCAA Zone Diving Championships on all three boards.Mazutaityte was named to the 2016 Mountain West All-Conference team for the 100 Backstroke and 200 Backstroke. Esme Gullick was named to the 2016 Mountain West All-Conference for the 400 IM.
The Bulldogs finished the 2014-2015 season strong, as the team broke one individual record and two relay records at the Mountain West Conference Championships. Fleck led the 'Dogs to an eighth place finish in the Mountain West. Fleck helped then-sophomore Esme Gullick rank among the top 20 in the Mountain West in five events and then-junior Kelly Simmons rank among the top 20 in three events.
The program saw several school records fall and also accomplished a few firsts as a team in 2013-14. For the first time, Fleck's Bulldogs captured the Beach Cup title as Fresno State knocked off Southern California schools Pepperdine, San Diego and Loyola Marymount to bring home the win in the middle of January. The 'Dogs set two new individual swimming school records, two new relay records and senior Hannah Prigge rewrote the diving record book and became the school-record holder in every diving event. Prigge ended her season at the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis and earned All-American status with a record-setting performance on the platform.
In 2013-14 the team broke eight swimming school records and two diving school records. In the individual events, Dani Yoho set a new 50 free and 100 free school record and Alex Madsen set a new 200 back and 200 IM school record. The 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relay teams all set new school records along with the 200 medley relay team. Fleck coached the 'Dogs to an eighth place finish at the MW Championship with the help of Yoho winning the 50 free MW Championship. Yoho went on to compete at the NCAA National Championship, along with diver Hannah Prigge, and helped Fresno State finish 41st in the nation.
The 2011-12 season marked the first year of home competit
