Carrie Pucko has been named the diving coach for the University of Vermont swimming and diving team. Head coach Gerry Cournoyer made the announcement today.

"We are really excited to have someone of Carrie's caliber working with our team," said Cournoyer.

Pucko comes to Vermont after serving two years as an assistant coach at the Central Massachusetts Diving Club in Worcester, Mass. She also participated as an assistant coach at the Navy Diving Camp in Annapolis, Md. twice.

A native of Webster, N.Y., Pucko dove for four seasons at Holy Cross and attended the NCAA Regionals three times. She advanced to the Patriot League Championship finals on six occasions where she medaled three times.

At Webster High School Pucko was a two-time New York State Finalist and Division V winner. She also received the Senior State Sportsmanship Award.

Pucko replaces Joe Petty as the diving coach at Vermont, as Petty recently stepped down after eight years with the team.

The Catamounts are coming off their first winning season 1991-92 after going 9-7 last year and open the 2006-07 campaign on Saturday at Siena starting at 1:00pm.