The Coaches

Director - Nick Cavataro

Nick is a resident of Greenwich and has been at the helm of the Gael A.C. since its founding in 1984 and at Iona College since 1980.

An energetic organizer, Coach Cavataro issues newsletters, e-mails, calendars and holds meetings with parents and swimmers to help with goals, questions, carpools, meet entries and other important team functions.  A distance freestyle and butterfly specialist at Iona Prep, Manhattan College and with the Gotham Aquatic Association (USS), Coach Cavataro was a three-time All-Metro selection.

In addition to the Gael Aquatic Club, Coach Cavataro is the head men's and women's coach and Director of Aquatics at Iona College.  In 27 years at Iona his career record is 211-165 and his teams have won four Metropolitan collegiate Swim Conference Championships (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991) and the 1993 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship and Coach-of-the-year honors in 1987 and 1991.

Since 1987, summers find Coach Cavataro at the Westchester Country Club, where his 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996 and 1997 teams won Westchester County Swim Conference titles (WCSC).

Coach Cavataro is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA-Level5); the College Swim Coaches Association and United States Swimming.  In 1984, 1986 and 1990 Cavataro was a panel speaker at the ASCA World Clinics.  In 1997 Cavataro spoke at the College Swim Coaches Association Clinic.

Cavataro is married to Susan Follansbee, and exercise physiologist.  The Cavataro's have six children, Stephanie, 20; Lauren, 18; Matthew, 16;  Kristi, 14; James, 9 and Kathryn, 7.

You can contact Nick via e-mail at ncavataro@gaelac.com
By phone at the Iona pool office: (914) 633-2323 from 9am-2pm.
Fax number: (914) 633-2688.

Head Coach - Brian Hansbury

Fifth year with Gael Aquatic Club A former All American selection at White Plains HS and University of Florida, he swam USS for the White Plains YMCA Middies. A distance freestyle specialist, he is the assistant coach of Iona College Men's and Women's swim team and has coached summers at the Larchmont Shore Club and Westchester Country Club as well as Iona Prep.

Assistant Coach - Melanie Andorfer

Assistant Coach - Drew Finneran

Assistant Coach - Dan Gannon