JERSEY CITY, NJ - Jose Cruz has been announced as the new Aquatics Coordinator & Head Swimming and Diving Coach Head Coach today after spending the last eight years as the head swimming and water polo coach at St. Benedict's Prep School.
Cruz, who originally is from Newark, NJ, brings over 20 years of experience coaching swimming at multiple different levels. He has documented success in turning struggling clubs to competitive programs with a key set of principles of discipline, collaboration, structure, and work effort to help benefit the athletes both in the pool and in their studies.
"I am excited to take over a program with such a huge upside in potential," Cruz said. "I believe in the culture of teamwork, good effort and consistency both in and out of the pool. This season we are going to need an all hands-on deck approach in everything we approach our business, otherwise we will never succeed in our potential as a program. Everything we do is for the benefit of the team and everyone will be held to the same standard."
Cruz started coaching at the Montclair YMCA, serving as an assistant coach from 2001-2004. He has served as a head coach at both St. Benedict's Prep from 2014-2022 and at the Metuchen Edison YMCA from 2012-2014.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Jose Cruz to Peacock Nation as the next Aquatics Coordinator & Head Swimming and Diving Coach", Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Operations Cam Harty said. "Jose comes to Saint Peter's as a long time swim coach with experience in working with athletes of all ages. I'm confident that with his work ethic and success that Saint Peter's Swimming and Diving will be able to reach the next level in the pool and in the classroom."
Cruz also has had multiple other assistant coaching positions, including Drew University (2004-06), Ridgewood YMCA (2004-08), the Metuchen Edison YMCA (
2008-09), Pittsburgh JCC (2009-19), and the Red Bank YMCA (2010-12, 2015-21).
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