By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
Cal State Bakersfield has announced Shane Pelton as the new leader of its swimming & diving program.
Pelton joins the Division I Roadrunners program with a decade of experience in the California State University system, including having served as the team’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2015-16 campaign.
Most recently, Pelton has served as the head coach at Division II Cal State East Bay, where he’s been for the past nine seasons, beginning in 2016.
“For me, this opportunity at Cal State Bakersfield ties my professional passion with my ability to be present for my family,” Pelton said. “My partner was born and raised in this community, and over the last decade I’ve grown to become a part of it as well. I’ve seen firsthand the pride, passion, and growth here, and I believe it’s a place with real potential.”
“I also believe this program, the athletes, and the community need stability. Someone who’s going to be here, invest in it, and see it through. That’s what drives me. I see a program with real potential, and I’m excited to build something meaningful, shape its culture, and grow it into something people are proud to be part of!”
Pelton takes over the CSUB Director of Swimming & Diving role after a rocky 14 months for the program.
In February 2025, head coach Chris Hansen was put on administrative leave, and then a few months later, he officially retired. In August 2025, Eric Bugby was named the program’s new head coach, but he resigned less than three months later.
For the remainder of the 2025-26 season, following Bugby’s resignation in late October, Ryan Brimer served as the interim Director of Swimming & Diving.
Brimer, who was hired as an assistant by Bakersfield prior to the 2024-25 season, is listed as an assistant coach on the 2026-27 team roster.
The Roadrunners women’s squad finished sixth out of seven teams at the 2026 Big West Championships, while the men’s program placed fifth out of six teams. In 2025, both teams took fifth, though that was prior to the addition of San Diego, Seattle and Grand Canyon to the conference.
The men’s team qualified one swimmer, Vili Sivec, for the 2026 NCAA Championships, where he went on to place 28th in the 200 fly and 36th in the 100 fly.
Coaching is one of my passions and I want our athletes to feel that every single day and have it spread throughout the community. If we want to swim fast, train fast, and compete at a high level, it starts with the energy and standard we bring daily. At the same time, I see this as a partnership. It’s about building real relationships with our athletes, creating trust, and learning from each other while pushing everyone to grow. I want to develop leaders, not just swimmers, and build a team people are excited to watch and be around.
–Shane Pelton
Cal State Bakersfield is the winningest program in NCAA Division II history on the men’s side, having won 13 national titles, most recently in 2004, while the women won the title in 1998.
The Roadrunners reclassified to Division I in 2007-08.
“This program was a powerhouse, and I believe we can restore that,” Pelton said. “I spent a year here and felt that right away. You can see the impact this place has, especially the lifetime friendships and relationships built on this pool deck.
“For me, it’s about re-engaging alumni, getting them back involved, and making sure our current athletes understand what they’re a part of! We want to create opportunities for them to be present, feel connected, and be proud of where we’re headed.”
During his time at Cal State East Bay, a women’s-only program, Pelton led the Pioneers to four Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference (PCSC) and two of the last three, including this past season.
Pelton has been named PCSC Coach of the Year five times, and most recently, he and his staff were named the 2026 PCSC Coaching Staff of the Year. He also helped the Pioneers qualify over 30 swimmers to the Division II NCAA Championships.
“In addition to the team’s competitive achievements, Pelton played a key role in the overall growth and development of the program,” Cal State East Bay said in a press release. “His emphasis on culture, accountability, and student-athlete success helped elevate the standard for Pioneer swimming both in and out of the pool.”
“I truly loved my time at East Bay. But the opportunity at Cal State Bakersfield allows me to continue doing what I love—coaching, leading, and building,” Pelton said.
Prior to Cal State East Bay, Pelton spent two years as an assistant coach at Arizona State, serving as lead recruiter for the women’s program while completing his master’s degree in liberal studies.
Before moving to Tempe, he spent five years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bridgeport University, where he coached multiple Division II national champions.
“Shane brings over a decade of head coaching experience and a proven track record of building successful, competitive programs while fostering strong, meaningful relationships with his student-athletes,” said Dr. Sarah Tuohy, CSUB’s Acting Director of Athletics.
“Having previously been part of the CSUB community, he understands what makes this place special and has a genuine passion for Bakersfield. He is deeply committed to connecting this program back to our community, and I am confident he will lead with integrity, energy, and purpose as we move forward.”
As a student-athlete, Pelton competed for Southern Connecticut State at the Division II level from 2004 until 2008, earning All-American honors as a senior in the 800 free relay and the 400 IM before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Following his swimming career, Pelton coached YMCA and club swimming for nine years in the Connecticut area.
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