Samantha Pitter is beginning her fifth season with the MIT swimming and diving programs, and her first as Acting Head Coach, stepping in for Dawn Dill who will be on maternity leave for the 2012-13 season.

Over the past four seasons, her work has been instrumental in bringing the Engineers to unprecedented levels of success. As an assistant coach, she helped lead the men’s team to four consecutive NEWMAC Championships and Top-10 NCAA finishes, with program high 4th place finishes in 2011 and 2012. Last year, the MIT women defended their NEWMAC title and placed 8th in the country, their first ever top 10 NCAA finish.

Pitter most recently attended the 2012 Olympic Trials with Wyatt Ubellacker ‘13, the first ever MIT swimmer to represent the Engineers at such a level. Ubellacker placed 21st in the 50-meter free, narrowly missing the semi-finals by a tenth of a second.  Pitter was also recognized for her contribution to MIT athletics in 2010 when she received the SAAC Superior Service Award, presented to the member of the MIT community that goes above and beyond to provide support for the student athlete experience.

Before arriving at MIT, Pitter earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics and communication from Hamilton College in 2007. She was a four-time All-American sprinter, school record holder, team captain and NESCAC All-Academic recipient during her four years with the Continentals. She received her Masters of Education in physical education and coaching from Boston University in 2011. In addition to her work with the MIT team, she has also coached masters swimmers for the past four years at Cambridge Masters Swim Club and most recently Boston University Masters Swim.