Nigro Adds Shaffer and Purdy as Assistant Swim Coaches

In a recent announcement by Director of Swimming & Diving Brandt Nigro, Army West Point Swimming & Diving proudly welcomes Megan Shaffer and Ryan Purdy to their coaching staff as assistant coaches.

Megan Shaffer transitions to West Point from her role as an assistant swim coach at Colgate University, where she also excelled as the men’s recruiting coordinator for the past two seasons. Expressing profound gratitude for the opportunity, Shaffer is inspired by the program’s direction under Brandt’s visionary leadership. She looks forward to collaborating with the dedicated staff and swimmers to pursue new achievements and elevate the team’s performance. Her ambition shines through as she envisions propelling the team forward while embracing the spirited rivalry with Navy.

Shaffer’s coaching tenure at Colgate witnessed remarkable progress, with the women’s team achieving their highest point total at the conference meet since 2016 and the men marking their best performance in five seasons during the 2022-23 campaign. Noteworthy accomplishments included setting 17 new program records. The subsequent season saw Colgate celebrating its first female swimmer reaching the podium at the Patriot League Championships in a decade, alongside a positive dual meet record for the women’s team, a highlight not surpassed since the 2017-18 season.

Before her time at Colgate, Shaffer contributed to the success of the Franklin and Marshall College team, culminating in a notable 17th place finish for the men’s team at the NCAA Championships. She played a pivotal role in setting 17 program records, including two conference records during her coaching tenure. A distinguished athlete in her own right, Shaffer was a four-time All-Landmark selection and team captain at Susquehanna University, where she graduated in 2020 with a degree in creative writing and publishing & editing.

On the other hand, Ryan Purdy brings his expertise to West Point after a stellar swimming career at the University of Arizona and the University of Iowa. As a former team captain at Arizona, Purdy achieved multiple B-cut times and received accolades such as CSCAA Scholar All-American honors and All-Academic Big Ten selection. His academic pursuits culminated in a bachelor’s degree in Learning and Leadership Innovation with a minor in recreation and sport from the University of Arizona in 2024.

Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the dynamic program at Army West Point, Purdy acknowledges the unparalleled athletic and academic environment at the institution. He is enthusiastic about contributing to the team’s growth and is eager to absorb knowledge from the esteemed coaching staff. Ryan embraces the distinctive attributes of West Point and anticipates a fulfilling career while learning from some of the nation’s best coaches.

With the addition of Shaffer and Purdy, the coaching team now stands at eight members, maximizing the coaching resources in compliance with NCAA regulations, and fortifying Army’s coaching framework for future success