University of Massachusets Athletics
Otsuka Named Acting Head Coach of the Women’s Swimming and Diving Program
June 24, 2024 | Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Otsuka was an assistant coach with the program for the past nine years.
AMHERST, Mass – Maiya Otsuka has been named the acting head coach of the University of Massachusetts women's swimming and diving program after serving as an assistant coach for the men's and women's swimming and diving teams for nine seasons.
"Maiya's time as our program's assistant coach has provided positive insight on the skills she possesses to lead our women's program," Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford said. "Her presence has helped support and advance the experience of our swimmers and divers in and out of the pool. We look forward to supporting Maiya so that we can meet program objectives to compete for conference championships very soon."
Otsuka first came to UMass in August of 2015 as the assistant women's coach and recruiting coordinator and served in that role for five years, before becoming the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for both the men's and women's programs at the start of the 2020-21 season. She worked with the development and implementation of season plans for the individual medley, middle distance and stroke groups.
"I have tremendous excitement and am so grateful to Ryan and the senior administrators for giving me the opportunity to be the next leader of the women's swimming and diving program," Otsuka said. "I am personally elated to continue working with a very determined, motivated and talented group of young women at the University of Massachusetts. Go UMass!"
During her time as an assistant, Otsuka helped coach her swimmers to a combined 20 school records, three pool records and 24 top-three finishes in the Atlantic 10 Conference. She also aided student-athletes to three NCAA standard achievements. She saw both the men's and women's teams recognized as Scholar All-America Teams for seven straight semesters.
Otsuka coached former Minutewoman Ansley Baker to a pair of gold medals in the 50 and 100 freestyle at the 2019 A-10 Championships and to a gold in the 100 breaststroke at the league meet in 2018. She also assisted in coaching former Minutemwoman Meriza Werenski to back-to-back gold medals in the 400 individual medley at the conference championships in 2016 and 2017.
Prior to UMass, Otsuka served as an intern assistant coach with the UConn Huskies in the fall of 2014 after a two-year stint as a volunteer assistant coach with Texas A&M from 2012 to 2014. She also served as a fifth-year assistant coach for her alma mater, Utah, after finishing up her competitive career with the Utes.
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Otsuka has also worked at the club and high school levels with youth ranging from four years to 18 years of age.
The native of Littleton, Colorado, Otsuka was a two-time team captain at Utah, where she holds school record in the 200 breaststroke, the 400 individual medley and the 400 medley relay. She was an All-Mountain West performer in each season with the Utes and was a Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete during the 2008-09 season. Otsuka also was a MWC conference champion and MWC meet record holder in the 400 medley relay.
Otsuka earned her master's degree in sports pedagogy from Texas A&M, after earning her bachelor's in exercise sport science at Utah.
"Maiya's time as our program's assistant coach has provided positive insight on the skills she possesses to lead our women's program," Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford said. "Her presence has helped support and advance the experience of our swimmers and divers in and out of the pool. We look forward to supporting Maiya so that we can meet program objectives to compete for conference championships very soon."
Otsuka first came to UMass in August of 2015 as the assistant women's coach and recruiting coordinator and served in that role for five years, before becoming the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for both the men's and women's programs at the start of the 2020-21 season. She worked with the development and implementation of season plans for the individual medley, middle distance and stroke groups.
"I have tremendous excitement and am so grateful to Ryan and the senior administrators for giving me the opportunity to be the next leader of the women's swimming and diving program," Otsuka said. "I am personally elated to continue working with a very determined, motivated and talented group of young women at the University of Massachusetts. Go UMass!"
During her time as an assistant, Otsuka helped coach her swimmers to a combined 20 school records, three pool records and 24 top-three finishes in the Atlantic 10 Conference. She also aided student-athletes to three NCAA standard achievements. She saw both the men's and women's teams recognized as Scholar All-America Teams for seven straight semesters.
Otsuka coached former Minutewoman Ansley Baker to a pair of gold medals in the 50 and 100 freestyle at the 2019 A-10 Championships and to a gold in the 100 breaststroke at the league meet in 2018. She also assisted in coaching former Minutemwoman Meriza Werenski to back-to-back gold medals in the 400 individual medley at the conference championships in 2016 and 2017.
Prior to UMass, Otsuka served as an intern assistant coach with the UConn Huskies in the fall of 2014 after a two-year stint as a volunteer assistant coach with Texas A&M from 2012 to 2014. She also served as a fifth-year assistant coach for her alma mater, Utah, after finishing up her competitive career with the Utes.
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Otsuka has also worked at the club and high school levels with youth ranging from four years to 18 years of age.
The native of Littleton, Colorado, Otsuka was a two-time team captain at Utah, where she holds school record in the 200 breaststroke, the 400 individual medley and the 400 medley relay. She was an All-Mountain West performer in each season with the Utes and was a Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete during the 2008-09 season. Otsuka also was a MWC conference champion and MWC meet record holder in the 400 medley relay.
Otsuka earned her master's degree in sports pedagogy from Texas A&M, after earning her bachelor's in exercise sport science at Utah.
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