Head Coach Kirk Sanocki
E-mail Coach Sanocki: ksanocki@wingate.edu
Call Coach Sanocki: 704-233-8167

Kirk Sanocki continues to lead the Bulldogs to new heights. In the 2006-07 season, he led both the men’s and women’s Wingate teams to an 11th place finish in the nation. He also led both teams to second place finishes in the BGMC. The feat is quite impressive for the men, considering it was only the second season in the history of the men’s program.

Sanocki enters his seventh season at the helm of the Wingate swimming program in 2007-08. The Wingate women have placed no lower than third in the BGMC championships during his tenure, winning back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005. It is Sanocki’s hope that the two programs will mirror each other in the not too distant future.

Under his watch, Wingate has produced 132 All-Conference swimmers and 19 CSCAA Academic All-Americans. Laura Gold became the school’s first-ever swimming All-American. Last season, Wingate had five men and five women earn All-America honors, including Gus Chagas, who became Wingate’s first national champion in school history. Each year, the Bulldogs re-write the team record books. Sanocki will tell you he is happy about the hardware in the trophy case, but he is more pleased with the fact Wingate University swimming is recognized for its academic excellence as well as its athletic prowess.

The Wingate women have earned a superior GPA ranking (above 3.2) on the College Swim Coaches Association Academic All-American team charts for 12 consecutive semesters. The Wingate men will look to follow in the women’s academic footsteps. Each year, Wingate adds more names to the CSCAA individual Academic All-American list as well.

In the spring of 2007, Rebekah Moody earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honors. Jessica Herman earned the honor two years in a row. Christy Cousins was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® team during her career. Both Herman and Cousins earned NCAA postgraduate scholarships.

Coach Sanocki discovered his love for coaching during his training for the 1984 Olympic Trails. His first coaching experience at the Region of Waterloo Swim Club in Ontario, Canada validated his feelings. His work with the developmental group led him back to his alma mater, the University of Maryland. Over the next four years with the Terrapins, Coach Sanocki was instrumental in recruiting and coaching 12 NCAA Division I qualifiers, four All-Americans and two Verizon Academic All-America® selections.

While a college assistant, Coach Sanocki was no stranger to the highest level of club swimming with stints at the Curl-Burke Swim Club, Retriever Aquatic Club, and the club he founded, the Green Terror Aquatic Club. While the head coach of the Green Terror Aquatic Club, Coach Sanocki developed the team into a premier small club with a 2000 Olympic Trials Qualifier, USA National Qualifier and numerous Junior Championship Qualifiers, along with six scholastic All-Americans.

Success for Coach Sanocki was not limited to the coaching ranks. Most recently, he was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Swimming Team and The Berks County Aquatic Hall of Fame. In addition to the 1984 Olympic Trials meet, Sanocki earned five individual ACC Championships, six East Coast Conference Individual Swimming Championships, a National Finalist listing and All-America honors at both the NCAA Swimming Championships and USA National Swimming Championships.

At the conclusion of the 1984 winter short course season, Coach Sanocki was ranked as high as third in the world for the 200 meter breaststroke. During his coaching and swimming career Coach Sanocki has continued to believe in three basic principles of success: HARD WORK – CONSISTENCY – ATTITUDE.

Coach Sanocki resides in Charlotte with his wife Suzie and his four children: Carson, Cole, Kendall and Lilly.