Rider University Athletics

The 2022-23 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on the men's side, Steve Fletcher completed his 24th season as the Rider University aquatic director in 2024-25.  In his 24 years, Fletcher has led his teams to 12 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles with the men (2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2004), one ECAC title with the men (2005), two MAAC titles with the women (2009, 2003) and has compiled 22 MAAC runner-up finishes. He has come home with 23 MAAC Diver of the Year awards and 15 MAAC Most Outstanding Performers.

In the 2024-25 season, the men finished fifth and women ninth at MAAC Championships. On the men's side, the Broncs swept the Diving awards with Stavros Xantheas being named MAAC Diver of the Meet and Steven Figueroa earning MAAC Rookie Diver of the Meet honors.

Rider's streak came to an end in 2023-24 with the men finishing third at the MAAC Championships and the women placing eighth.

The men’s team made it 11 in a row in 2022-23, earning Fletcher another MAAC men’s Swimming Coach of the Year. On the women’s side, Karyn Creelman earned MAAC Rookie Diver of the Meet.

Returning from the COVID-19 pandemic, Fletcher led the Rider men to a tenth-straight MAAC Championship in 2021-22, earning MAAC Men’s Coach of Year honors. Sean Binning led the Broncs at the meet, earning MAAC Rookie Diver and Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet.

In 2019-20, the Rider men won a ninth-straight MAAC Championship and the women's team placed fifth. Fletcher was named MAAC Men's Coach of the Year for the ninth time. Justin Carey was named MAAC Swimmer of the Year and Dillon Walles earned MAAC Diver of the Year honors. Matt Lequang claimed MAAC Swimming Rookie of the Meet. Head Diving Coach, Kristen Simms was named MAAC Diving Coach of the Year as well.

In 2018-19, the Rider men captured their eighth straight MAAC Championship and the women's team finished in third place. Fletcher was honored once again as the MAAC Men's Coach of the Year and sophomore Dillon Walles was tabbed as the MAAC Men's Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet, while freshman Kayla May was recognized as the MAAC Women's Swimming Rookie of the Meet. At the MAAC Championships, the men's team set three new records. The Broncs also saw Head Diving Coach Kristen Simms named the MAAC Diving Coach of the Year. 

The Broncs saw two divers qualify for the NCAA Zone A Championships with both Walles and Joe Warker producing solid results. At the ECAC Championships, diver Meg Tomayko brought home a silver medal in the 3M. 

In 2017-18, the Rider men captured their seventh straight MAAC Championship and the a young women's team finished fifth-place overall. For the third year in a row, Zack Molloy was tabbed as the MAAC Men's Most Outstanding Performer, while Fletcher was honored once again as the MAAC Men's Coach of the Year. The Broncs also had two other major award winners as freshman Dillon Walles was named the MAAC Men's Rookie Diver of the Meet and junior Breanne Hatter was the MAAC Women's Diver of the Meet. At the Championships, the Broncs also broke eight MAAC records. 

At the ECAC Championships, Meg Tomayko finished fourth in the 1M and sixth in the 3M. 

Three Rider divers qualified for the NCAA Zone A Championships. Hatter was unable to perform due to an injury, but Walles and junior Joe Warker had solid showings for the Broncs. 

In 2016-17, the Rider men once again went undefeated during the dual-meet season and won the MAAC title for the sixth year in a row with the women finish second for the second straight year. Zack Molloy was named the MAAC Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet for the second year in a row thanks to braking two MAAC records on the final day of action. Molloy was not the only Bronc to earn a major award at the end of the evening as Head Coach Steve Fletcher was tabbed as the MAAC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year. A trio of freshman also picked up accolades as Justin Carey and Natalie Carter were both honored as the MAAC Men's and Women's Rookie Swimmer of the Meet. Diver Meg Tomayko was named the MAAC Women's Diving Rookie of the Meet.

During the year, Fletcher saw the team break conference, pool and Rider records. Also, Molloy was named as the National Swimmer of the Week following the MAAC Championships for the second year in a row.

In 2015-16, the Rider men went undefeated during the dual meet season (9-0) and won the MAAC Championship for the fifth year in a row with the Bronc women placing runner-up.  Zack Molloy earned MAAC Male Swimmer of the Meet honors with three MAAC gold medals and he was part of four MAAC and Rider record setting relays.  Fletcher was voted MAAC Male Coach of the Year for the third year in a row.  The Rider men placed third at ECACs.

Both men's and women's teams have consistantly earned national academic recognition from the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for team grade point averages over a 3.00.

In 2014-15, Fletcher led the Bronc men's team to their fourth straight conference championship, earning MAAC Coach of the Year honors.

In 2013-14, Fletcher was named MAAC Coach of the Year on the men's side with the team winning its third straight MAAC Championship and he was named the Rider Athletics Coach of the Year for the third time.

Fletcher led the women's team to the 2009 MAAC Championship with the men finishing runner-up with the Broncs setting 21 conference records and he was named both MAAC and ECAC Coach of the Year.

In 2009-10, both teams placed runner-up at MAACs and were third at ECACs.

In 2011-12, Fletcher earned MAAC Coach of the Year on the women's side with the team earning a runner-up finish for the third straight season and both the men's and women's teams placed fifth at ECACs.

The 2004-05 ECAC Championships Coach of the Meet, Fletcher was named both the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Swim Coach of the Year and the Rider University Coach of the Year.  "For my peers to recognize our team and myself in such a way, I am truly humbled," said Fletcher upon receiving the awards.

Thus far 23 of the 24 men's team records were set during Fletcher's tenure, while all 24 of the women's records have been set in the last 10 years.

Fletcher began his coaching career at Rider in 1992 as an assistant coach. For five years he worked with 29-year veteran head coach, Rich Coppola, and during that time the men and women captured one Metropolitan Conference (MET) Championship title and earned four Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) runner-up finishes.

After leaving Rider in 1997, Fletcher served as assistant coach at Rutgers University under accomplished head coach Chuck Warner, the former Pan American Team, World University Games and National Junior Team coach.  At Rutgers, Fletcher assisted in the training of Junior and Senior National level athletes as well as Big East Conference Champions while supporting the recruitment efforts that would help Coach Warner and the Scarlet Knights regain their national reputation as a championship program.

After Rutgers, Fletcher became the head coach at Franklin & Marshall and led the Diplomats through a dramatic rise to become a power in both the Centennial Conference and Mid-Atlantic region. During Fletcher's tenure at F&M, his swimmers claimed four NCAA All-American awards.

Most importantly, Fletcher's program is highlighted by a coaching philosophy that places a premium on a student-athlete's development. Under Fletcher's direction at Rider, it is the coaching staff's goal to push those athletes who exhibit the will to train and desire to compete and continue to improve throughout their four years of collegiate swimming and diving.

A 1992 graduate of Lafayette College where he earned a bachelor's degree in Government and Law, Fletcher was a four year member of the Lafayette men's swim team. He remains a school record holder at his alma mater and finished his career with performances that contributed to his earning the T. Gordon Yates award as the Leopard's Most Improved Swimmer and supported Lafayette's highest men's team finish in the Patriot League Championships in 1992.

Fletcher added a master's degree in Human Services Administration from Rider University in 1995.

Steve Fletcher  - Rider Dual Meet Record

$-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champions
%-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Champions
COY - Coach of the Year