Reno native Brendon Bray enters his 11th season as head coach of Nevada women’s swimming and diving and his 22nd overall in NCAA coaching.
Since taking over in 2016, Bray has guided the Wolf Pack to six top-three finishes at the Mountain West Championships, including four consecutive runner-up results from 2019–22. Nevada has scored at the NCAA Championships four times under Bray (24th in 2017, 29th in 2018, 36th in 2023, and 33rd in 2026), finishing as the highest-placing Mountain West team each year. The program has produced individual NCAA qualifiers in every season except the canceled 2020 meet and has sent 10 NCAA qualifiers since 2021.
In 2026, Bray coached Mountain West Swimmer of the Year, Co-Swimmer of the Meet, and NCAA All-American (Second Team) Scarlett Ferris, who also set all-time conference records in the 100 back (50.87) and 100 butterfly (51.34). He also coached Mountain West Freshman of the Meet Moji Pholjamjumrus. Overall, Bray’s swimmers have claimed 24 Mountain West event titles (36 including diving) since 2016 and set school records across freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and multiple relays. His athletes have succeeded internationally as national champions from Scotland, the Netherlands, and Brazil, Olympic competitor Enkhkhuslen Batbayar (Mongolia), and many Olympic trial competitors. Local standouts include Bishop Manogue’s Donna dePolo (NCAA qualifier, MW champion, Olympic trials) and McQueen’s Benedict Nagy (three-time MW 400 IM champion, NCAA qualifier).
Academically, Nevada has earned CSCAA Team Scholar All-America honors every semester under Bray, with team GPAs never dipping below 3.4 (peak 3.68 in Fall 2022) and two Academic All-Americans.
Prior to Nevada, Bray led North Texas as Head Coach to one of its strongest recent seasons (7-4 duals, program-best Conference USA finish). At San Diego State (2007–13), he helped transform a last-place program into a two-time Mountain West champion, national top-25 contender, and consistent dual-meet power that broke every school record. He began his career at his alma mater, Washington, serving as undergraduate assistant and later assistant coach/recruiting coordinator.
A three-time Nevada state champion at Reno High, Bray swam at Utah and Washington, earning team awards and competing at nationals and scoring at Pac-12 Championships. He holds a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s in intercollegiate athletic leadership from Washington. Bray lives in Reno with his wife Beth, sons Calvin (9) and Chase (6), ragdoll cat Teddy, and English bulldog Daisy.
