Nick Stone, who mentored the first All-America swimmer in 40 years at Buffalo State College and previously served as the interim head coach for the powerful program at Williams College, led the men's swimming and diving team to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship in his first season at Albion College.
In 2021, the Brits finished third in the MIAA on both the men's and women's sides.Â
Stone led the men's side to their second straight, and third in four years, MIAA Championship in 2020. On the women's side, the Brits took third at the MIAA Championships, scoring the most points in program history.Â
Boosted by six individual event titles and a MIAA record by Tyler Kimbrell in the 200-yard breaststroke, Albion won the MIAA championship in 2019. Eight Britons achieved all-MIAA status and six advanced to compete in the NCAA Division III Championships. Albion tied for 25th in the NCAA Championships team standings as diver Jake Burris was an All-American on the 1- and 3-meter boards and the 200-yard medley relay achieved honorable mention All-America distinction.
In just three seasons at Buffalo State, Stone helped the Bengals set 30 school records as both the men’s and women’s teams moved up in the State University of New York Athletic Conference championship standings.
In addition to helping the team rise in the conference, Stone developed Buffalo State into a presence at the NCAA Division III Championship as he coached a six-time All-America performer.
Stone created a culture for team and individual success in both academics and athletics at Buffalo State, and the women’s squad was recognized by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America as a Scholar All-America team for three consecutive semesters, while the men’s squad achieved the distinction twice.
Stone broke into the coaching ranks as the assistant for the women’s team at Ithaca (N.Y.) College in 2010 before coaching the men’s squad for the 2011-2012 season. He moved to positions as the assistant coach at Williams and head coach of Purple Valley Aquatics, a club program in Williamstown, Mass., in 2012.
During his tenure at Williams, the Ephs boasted 43 national qualifiers. The men’s team captured the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship in all three seasons and finished as high as third at the NCAA Championship. On the women’s side, Williams won consecutive NESCAC titles and also placed third nationally.
Stone has a master’s degree in sport psychology from Ithaca and a bachelor’s in psychology from Hope College, where he was a three-year swimmer and NCAA qualifier in the 200 free and 800 free relay.
