Shane Pelton was named head coach for Cal State East Bay women's swimming in 2016 and has led the program to amazing feats since leading the Pioneers.
In 2024-25 under Pelton's direction, four individual qualifiers were selected for the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships - the most for the program since he took over. For the same postseason meet, two relay teams were selected for the NCAA Championships.
He led the Pioneers to a PCSC Championship in 2023-24 and had several swimmers qualify and compete at the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships. Tehani Kong, in her first season under the direction of Pelton, finished eighth in the nation for the 100 yard butterfly.
In 2022-23, Pelton led five Pioneers to qualify for the 2023 NCAA Division II Championships, including Brooklyn Dressel and Kylie Beaudet as individuals and two relay teams. Many Pioneer records were broken during the season. Dressel earned the distinction of Academic All-America® Third Team following the season.
The 2019-20 season was yet another record breaking and historic year for the Pioneers under Pelton. The CSUEB swim team were named back-to-back Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Champions for the second time in the university's history. During the season, the East Bay swimmers set 6 new program records, three of which cam from the three athletes to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championship meet; Allie Klinger, Peyton Wayment and Victoria Zukeran. Pelton was named PCSC Female Coach of the Year in 2019-20, his second time receiving the honor.
The 2018-19 season was record breaking and historic under Coach Pelton. The CSUEB team were the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Champions for the first time in the university's history. During the season, the Pioneer swimmers set 5 new program records, four of which came from the two athletes to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championship meet; Peyton Wayment and Allie Klinger.
In 2017-18, he led CSUEB to its sixth straight top-three finish at PCSC Championships and 13th place at NCAA Division II Championships, the highest finish in school history. He coached six All-Americans, led by Claire Beaty who finished as national runner-up in the 200 Breaststroke. Over the course of the season, the Pioneers set new program records in 11 different events.
Pelton's first season with the Pioneers was an historic one, as he led the squad back to the NCAA Division II championships for the first time in three years, and exceeded all expectations to take 15th place in the team standings, matching the best finish in program history at the time. Pelton also led CSUEB to its fifth straight top-three finish at Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Championships, despite not fielding a diving team.
Under his guidance, the Pioneers set nine new school records during the 2016-17 season. Two of them are owned by First Team All-American breast-stroker Claire Beaty, and four of them belong to First Team All-American Morgan McClure, who also claimed three PCSC titles, was named both PCSC Co-Swimmer of the Year and Cal State East Bay Female Athlete of the Year. Pelton also coached Mariam Lowe to a PCSC championship and a school record performance in the 100 Back. In addition, the Pioneers broke two relay records in 2016-17 (200 Free and 800 Free), and four individuals earned All-American honorable mentions for their performances at NCAA Championships.
Pelton spent nearly a decade in the coaching profession before coming to Hayward, most recently as the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator for the men's and women's swimming and diving program at Cal State Bakersfield.
At Bakersfield, Pelton handled a multitude of responsibilities and helped lead a 2015-16 women's squad that won five dual meets during the season and placed fourth at the Western Athletic Conference championships. In addition to day-to-day coaching duties, he was in charge of recruiting, travel arrangements, monitoring academic progress, directing home meets, and coordinating with the admissions, business, and compliance offices.
Prior to his stint at Cal State Bakersfield, Pelton spent two years as an assistant coach at Arizona State, serving as lead recruiter for the women's program while completing his master's degree in liberal studies. Before that, he spent five years as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bridgeport University. There he coached multiple Division II national champions, including the national record holder in the 100 backstroke.
Pelton was also a successful student-athlete at the Division II level, competing for Southern Connecticut State from 2004-08. He earned All-American honors as a senior in the 800 freestyle relay and 400 individual medley before graduating with a bachelor's degree in business management. Following his swimming career, Pelton coached YMCA and club swimming for nine years in the Connecticut area.
