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Mary Kay Samko is an American swimming coach renowned for her extensive contributions to collegiate swimming, particularly as the Aquatics Director and Head Men's and Women's Swim Coach at Bentley University.

Early Life and Education

A native of Short Hills, New Jersey, Samko graduated from Boston College in 1976, where she was a two-time swim team Most Valuable Player. In 1982, she became the first woman inducted into the Boston College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coaching Career

Samko's coaching career spans over four decades, during which she has held positions at several institutions:

• Tufts University (1976–1982): As the women's swim coach, Samko led her team to significant achievements, including producing eight Division III All-Americans and securing numerous New England championships. Her tenure culminated in a sixth-place finish at the 1982 NCAA Division III Championships.
• Southern Connecticut State University (1982–1987): Taking over a struggling program, Samko transformed the women's swim team into an undefeated squad in her final year, with two swimmers qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championships.
• University of the South, Sewanee (1991–1994): Serving as both head coach and pool director, Samko continued to build competitive swim programs for both men and women.
• Bentley University (1996–Present): Since her arrival, Samko has developed Bentley's swim program into one of the most competitive in the Northeast-10 Conference. Under her leadership, all school records have been surpassed multiple times. The women's team secured six consecutive New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) championships from 2002 to 2007, and additional titles in 2010 and 2012. The men's team captured seven NEISDA titles between 2001 and 2012 before transitioning to the Northeast-10 Conference, where they have won championships in 2010, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Notably, during the 2010–2011 season, swimmers Anne Kaduboski and Jessica Hodsdon became the first All-Americans in Bentley's swimming history.

Throughout her tenure at Bentley, Samko has achieved impressive dual meet records, with the women's team posting a 263–68 record and the men's team a 206–74 record over 27 years. Her career milestones include surpassing 500 dual meet victories, a testament to her enduring impact on collegiate swimming.

Awards and Honors

Samko's coaching excellence has been recognized through numerous awards:

• NEISDA Men's Swim Coach of the Year: Three times (2001, 2003, 2006).
• NEISDA Women's Swim Coach of the Year: Four times (2002, 2003, 2011, 2012).
• Northeast-10 Men's Swimming Coach of the Year: Four times (2010, 2017, 2019, 2020).