An alumnus of the program and a veteran head coach at the NCAA Division II level, April Gitzen enters her seventh year as head swimming coach at California (PA) during the 2025-26 season.
Gitzen, formerly April Staniszewski '09, '10, previously served as the head coach of the men's and women's swimming programs at West Virginia Wesleyan for eight seasons. She was tabbed the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Coach of the Year three times over her last two years, receiving the laurel for men's swimming in both 2018 and 2019 and women's swimming in 2019.
A native of Pittsburgh, Gitzen aided in the development of Gabby Miller and Karley Owens who both recorded multiple all-time top-five times in school history. Miller became the first swimmer in nearly a decade to compete at the NCAA Championships in 2025. Additionally, Miller registered three podium finishes at the PSAC Championships last year and became the first swimmer in eight years to earn All-PSAC honors by placing second in the 50 freestyle with the second-fastest time in school history.
Owens posted a trio of top-five times in school history and accounted for over 75 points as an individual at the 2020 PSAC Championships. She qualified for the championship finals in both the 200 breaststroke and 400 IM, placing fifth in each event, while tallying the second-fastest time in school history in the 200 breaststroke and registered the third-best time in the 400 IM.
Gitzen has led the Vulcans to a combined 35-19 record in dual meets in five full seasons. Cal served as the host school for the 2020 PSAC Championships before finishing seventh the following year at a modified league championships.
The Vulcans have received College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America Team status every spring under Gitzen. Over the last three years, a total of 12 swimmers have earned CSC Academic All-District honors in the new structure for the Academic All-America program that placed a maximum number of four women’s swimming nominees per institution.
Gitzen directed both West Virginia Wesleyan swimming programs to a MEC Championship in 2019 at the GMAC/MEC Championships in Canton, Ohio. The Bobcats finished in third place in the men's standings, while the women's program placed fifth overall – the MEC and GMAC each recognize the top finisher from their respective conference as a champion. West Virginia Wesleyan featured a combined 28 All-MEC individual recipients, while eight relays combined to also garner all-league status.
In 2019, Gitzen mentored both the MEC Men's Swimmer of the Year in Arthur Assfeld and the MEC Women's Freshman of the Year in Rylee Jackson. Assfeld recorded the fastest time in the league in four events and captured the 50 freestyle title at the GMAC/MEC Championships. The Bobcats repeated as MEC Men's Champions in 2019, as the program accomplished the feat the previous year in its first season as a league member.
Prior to joining the MEC, West Virginia Wesleyan competed as members of the Appalachian Swimming Conference. Gitzen was chosen the ASC Women's Coach of the Year in 2017 after leading the Bobcats to a third-place finish.
Gitzen served as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor at West Virginia Wesleyan for five-plus years and was also an adjunct professor in the multiple departments on campus.
A product of South Park, Gitzen competed for the Vulcans in the freestyle, breaststroke and IM events from 2006-09 and finished her career with three individual school records. She earned All-PSAC status as a senior in the 400 IM and 400 medley relay with both then-school record times.
Gitzen competed at the 2009 NCAA Championships in Houston, Texas, in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 400 IM, plus as a member of the 400 medley relay. She received College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America honors that season.
Following graduation, Gitzen spent nearly two years as a swim coach at South Park Aquatic Club before joining West Virginia Wesleyan as head coach in 2011.
Gitzen earned her bachelor's degree in sport management from Cal in 2009 before completing her master's degree the following year in sport management with a concentration in intercollegiate athletic administration.
Gitzen and her husband Mike reside in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and have two daughters, Emery and Lynden.
