Tony Marleneanu was named the head coach of the Florida Institute of Technology men’s and women’s swimming programs in August 2024, becoming the fourth head coach in the history of the Panthers’ swimming program. In his first season at Florida Tech, Marleneanu made an immediate impact, coaching the program’s seventh men’s All-American as Efe Ongoren placed ninth in the 500 freestyle with a school-record time of 4:23.00. Under his leadership, the men’s team achieved a season-high national ranking of No. 25 during the 2024–25 season, defeated nationally ranked Rollins, and the women’s team received national votes multiple times, reflecting growing momentum for both programs.
Marleneanu joined Florida Tech after five successful seasons as head coach at Hendrix College in Arkansas, where he led the Warriors to a 22–15 overall record and coached 16 All–Southern Athletic Association swimmers. His tenure at Hendrix was marked by consistent record-breaking performances, including dozens of new program records and multiple All-SAA honors, as well as earning SAA Men’s Coach of the Year recognition in his first season. Prior to Hendrix, he served as head coach at Sacred Heart High School and as CEO and head coach of The AquaKids INC., while also gaining club coaching experience with Northwest Arkansas Aquatics and RAC AquaHawgs. A native of Romania, Marleneanu was an accomplished swimmer at Henderson State, earning NCAA All-American honors and All-Academic recognition before graduating with a degree in business administration. His background as an international athlete and experienced program builder continues to shape his athlete-centered approach at Florida Tech.
