Salisbury, N.C. —- The Catawba College men's and women's swimming program has hired Alex Gonzalez as its Assistant Coach, Catawba head coach Matthew Gearing announced Monday.

"We are extremely excited for Alex to join our staff and help us continue the momentum we have gained over the last three years," Gearing said. "He's gained some valuable experience in the corporate world that we look forward to integrating into our program. We can't wait for him to meet the team and use his experience as a Team Captain at the University of Cincinnati to help us continue to Develop Tomorrow's Leaders at Catawba Today."

Gonzalez spent the last year as an account executive in Atlanta, gaining key recruiting experience in a corporate business setting.

The position followed a three-year career at the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated with a 3.5 GPA in Sociology, serving as a captain of the Bearcats' squad. Gonzalez started his collegiate career at the University of Iowa.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of this staff," Gonzalez said. "Matthew and Regan have some incredible ideas about swimming and I am excited to grow as a coach alongside them. Catawba has been on a fantastic trajectory and I can't wait to be able to contribute to that success."

Both Catawba teams are coming off of their best seasons in program history, as both finished as the runner-up in the 2025 South Atlantic Conference Swimming Championships. The teams then both set program-best finishes at the NCAA Division II National Championships along with 19 All-America swims, topping the program's previous record of three in 2015.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ALEX GONZALEZ

Mandy Commons-Disalle, Men's and Women's Swimming Head Coach - University of Cincinnati

"I am excited for Alex to start his journey as a collegiate swim coach at Catawba College. I hope he can lean on his experience as a student-athlete at the Uniersity of Cincinnati to help him guide the next generation of college swimmers."

Joey Ferreri, Men's and Women's Swimming Associate Head Coach - University of Cincinnati

"Alex is an exceptional individual with a true passion for the sport of swimming. He consistently strives to learn, grow and bring out the best in himself and those around him. His competitive drive, combined with his leadership experience, will help him thrive in his new role. I'm excited to see him in his new role on the pool deck."