Xavier University director of athletics Dawn Rogers and head swim coach George Rathman have announced the hiring of Steve Riegler as assistant men’s and women’s swimming coach. “Steve brings a great deal of collegiate experience to the Xavier University Swimming staff,” stated head coach George Rathman. “He has coached sprint, middle distance and distance swimmers, with a number of them achieving NCAA qualifying times. Steve believes in creating a fun and challenging environment for student-athletes and has a great energy for the sport. He understands the importance of team success both in the classroom and in the pool. Steve will manage the recruiting responsibilities and has demonstrated the ability to recruit quality student-athletes. I am very excited to have Steve join the Xavier family and be a part of our program as we continue our success in the Atlantic 10 Conference.”

Riegler, the former University of Richmond women’s swimming assistant coach, comes to XU after helping the Spiders capture the 2005 Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Championship. He watched 11 school records fall during the 2004-05 season in addition to coaching the A-10 Rookie of the Meet and Performer of the Meet during the 2005 A-10 Swim Championships. Riegler also helped send one swimmer to the NCAA meet as a qualifier in the 50 Free, 100 Free and 100 Fly while also helping her to earn All-American honors.

Prior to his stint at Richmond, Riegler was an assistant swimming and diving coach at his alma mater, the University of Toledo. While with the Rockets, he was responsible for recruiting, middle-distance/stroke workouts, budgeting, travel, running practices and alumni relations. He coached an NCAA qualifier and the 2003 MAC Conference Swimmer of the Meet with eight school records falling at the MAC Championships.

He began his collegiate coaching career with Northern Illinois University where he worked with distance and middle-distance while heading recruiting efforts. He sent a swimmer to the NCAA meet as a “B” qualifier and saw six school records fall during the 2002 MAC Championships.

Riegler competed for four years at the University of Toledo and developed into one of the fastest backstrokers in MAC history. Regarded as one of the most improved swimming athletes at Toledo, he was one of four Rocket swimmers to sweep the Top-4 places in the 200 back at the 1997 MAC Championships.

After graduating with a bachelor's in education from Toledo, Riegler served as an assistant swimming coach at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio, while teaching physical education in the Washington Township School District. He then became a graduate assistant coach under former Toledo head swimming and diving coach Brian Sharar, while completing his master's degree in recreation administration.

Riegler and his wife, Lori, who also swam at Toledo, have a daughter, Meredith.