Peter Metrinko, who competed for the Blue Hens and earned his degree in elementary education from Delaware in 2000, was named Delaware's new diving coach Oct. 1, 2003. He works under men's and women's swimming and diving head coach John Hayman and will begin his sixth season in 2008-09.
Metrinko replaced his former coach, John Schuster, who retired after serving 20 seasons as coach of the Blue Hen divers.
A native of Suffolk, NY, Metrinko was a three-year letterwinner for the Blue Hens, leading the squad to three straight America East conference championships in 1997, 1998, and 1999. He posted four top six finishes at the America East championships during his career, placing fifth in the three-meter dive in 1997 and 1998 and sixth in the one-meter event in 1997 and 1998.
He advanced to the ECAC Eastern championships as a senior in 1999 and placed 12th in the one-meter and 15th in the three-meter dive.
During Metrinko's first season in 2003-04, freshman Steve Henn placed sixth in the one-meter diving event at the Colonial Athletic Association championships and was named the CAA Male Rookie Diver of the Year. In 2004-05, Sarah Bergan posted two top 10 finishes in the diving events at the CAA women's championships. In 2005-06, Alyson Oliver earned All-CAA honors by placing third in the one-meter diving event at the CAA meet. In 2006-07, Matt Abbruzzese placed fourth in the three-meter event at the CAA Championships and competed at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships. Abbruzzese placed fifth in both diving events during the 2007-08 CAA meet.
Metrinko is currently in his eighth year as a teacher in the Red Clay School District in Wilmington, DE. He is in his second year as a fifth grade teacher at Brandywine Springs Elementary School after serving the last five years as a fourth grade teacher at Marbrook Elementary School.
He is in his second year as head coach with the Delaware Riptide Diving Club based at the University of Delaware.
Metrinko resides in Wilmington with his wife, Erin, and their newborn son, Gavin, who was born in April, 2008. The couple was married in 2006 in Key West, FL.