Gerry Cournoyer is the head coach of women's swimming and diving at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont, and entered his 25th season leading the program in 2024-25. Since taking over the Catamounts in 2000, he has overseen one of the most successful stretches in program history, including Vermont's first America East championship in 2023-24. That season, Vermont finished 7-4, won the NJIT Invite and the Harold Anderson Invitational, set nine varsity records and seven first-year records at the conference meet, earned four gold medals, and advanced to the CSCAA National Invitational for the first time, placing 31st out of 60 teams. Cournoyer and his staff were recognized as the America East Coaching Staff of the Year, an honor they have also received in 2007, 2009, and 2016.
Under Cournoyer, Vermont established itself as a consistent top program in the conference well before the 2024 title. The Catamounts placed third at the America East Championship for 11 straight seasons through 2023 and for 10 straight seasons through 2022. At the 2023 conference meet, Vermont again finished third, with Jackie House setting a school record in the 100 freestyle and the 800 freestyle relay team of House, Hally Laney, Ella Church, and Mina Poppas earning All-Conference honors. That same championship produced two program firsts when Natalie Schlemmer was named Female Rookie Swimmer of the Meet and House was selected as Most Outstanding Female Swimmer. Vermont had six All-Conference honorees and three America East All-Academic Team selections that year, and its seven dual-meet wins were the program's highest total since 2014-15.
