Smith College Athletics

Coming off a historic season, Caleb Potvin enters his second season as the head swim and dive coach for the 2026-2027 campaign. After the team recorded its best conference championship finish since 2008 and its most dual meet wins since the 1985-1986 season, Potvin continues to add to his elite coaching resume.

Philosophy
A happy student-athlete is a high performing student-athlete. Potvin focuses on creating a sense of belonging for each student-athlete to help create that happiness. He deeply values the relationship between the coach and the athlete and takes the time to care for them beyond the pool. Additionally, Potvin believes that success is a natural byproduct for process-driven teams. Therefore, Potvin focuses on excellence (not success) which he describes as relentless consistency with a commitment toward getting rid of mindsets like "what if I fail?" or "I need to win" and shifting instead toward "let's find out what happens when I give it my all." 
 

At Smith:

• 2025-2026 season: 9-3 dual meet record; most wins since 1985-1986 season
• First program dual meet victory over WPI; first against Springfield since 1986
• 2026 Conference Championship result was the team’s best finish since 2008
• 2x CSCAA 2nd Team Scholar All Americans
• 4x CSC Academic All-District Team selections
• 14x NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Selections; 2nd most in the conference
• 21 all-time top 5 performers; 1 school record

Experience

• Assistant Swim Coach & Recruiting Coordinator - University of New Hampshire (2002-2025)
  • 2023 & 2025 America East team champions
  • 19-3-1 dual meet record
  • Undefeated season (2025)
• Head Swim Coach - Stoneill College (2019-2022)
  • 6-3 dual meet record
  • 1st conference champion in team history
  • Highest non division 1 team finish at the 2021 ECAC winter championships
• Senior Club Coach & Volunteer Collegiate Coach - Texas A&M University (2018-2019)
• Head Swim Coach & Program Director - EDGE Swim Club (2014-2018)
  • 5x Champlain Valley Swim League and Vermont Swim Association champions
  • 41-1 dual meet record
    • Prior to tenure, the team had never posted better than a .500 dual meet record nor placed better than 4th at the league or state meet

Education: 

• B.A., History - Saint Michael's College (2012)
• M.Ed, Physical Education, Athletic Administration - Plymouth State University (2025)
• CSCAA Mentor Program (2020 - present)

Personal:
Potvin is a proud husband and father. He has children ages 7, 5 and 3. His favorite thing to do is to spend time with his wife and children. He enjoys traveling, visiting national parks, hiking, camping, running, lifting weights, and eating ice cream. He loves trying all of the great and local handmade ice cream shops in the area!

Coaching Tree:

• Maya Lovre ‘26 - University of Chicago Assistant Swimming Coach & Assistant Director of Aquatics