10/18/2026
Well deserved Brian Melanson! Your passion for the sport of swimming, water safety, and learn to swim programs is to be admired. We can't wait to expand programs with you at the Aquatic Center!
In the 26 years since its inception, Brian Melanson is still the only person to ever wear the title of ‘head coach’ in the history of the Schenectady boys’ swimming and diving team. It’s been a long and fulfilling career thus far for the 51-year-old Melanson, who’s earned over 100 career wins, six Aqua League Championships, and now, an induction to the Greater Capital Region Aquatics Hall of Fame.
However, when asked what he thinks has been the most rewarding aspect of his tenure, Melanson pointed to a different accomplishment, one that even after 26 years, still never gets old.
“Every year, I seem to get a kid or two who comes out to the varsity swim team at Schenectady, and literally does not know how to swim. It's not like they're not fast or they don't know how to do the butterfly; they literally don't know how to swim,” Melanson said. “Having these kids being willing to take the risk and then teaching them how to swim and getting them to points where they actually are competing … that’s my proudest moment.
“To me, swimming is one very small aspect of their lives, making them better people has always been my goal as a coach.”
Three years ago, in fall 2023, Melanson’s mission expanded well beyond the aquatic athletes on the Patriots’ varsity roster, as he launched a free “Learn to Swim” program for local students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Melanson, who graduated from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in 1993, was the product of a similar program during his youth, and wanted to offer Schenectady children the same life-changing opportunities that he had.
Melanson planned for 50 registrants during the program’s pilot season, but quickly realized he had underestimated just how eager the community was to get in the water. Over 200 people signed up, causing the project to be put on hold for a few weeks as Melanson and the Schenectady City School District retooled their approach to meet the unforseen demand.
And it’s only grown since then, as Melanson said there were nearly 1,000 participants this past spring, and another 1,348 sign-ups over the summer.
“It still blows my mind,” Melanson remarked. “I’m still expecting 50 kids, which is a lot of kids to teach to learn how to swim and give them a life skill that benefits them forever, and may even save their life one day.”
In addition to his role as a head coach, grassroots advocate, and elementary P.E. teacher, Melanson is also now in his 23rd year serving as the coordinator for Section 2 boys’ swimming and diving, having succeeded Ned Monthie, who was among one of the first class of inductees to the Capital Region Aquatic Hall of Fame.
“I went to that [induction ceremony], and I actually was sitting there thinking, ‘If I stay on this right path … maybe in 20 years I could also get in,” Melanson recalled. “The day came a lot sooner than I thought.”
This past spring, Melanson became the assistant state coordinator for NYPHSAA, where he continues to make efforts toward “moving the sport forward.”
“Now that I've moved into this assistant state coordinator role, I try to do the same thing for New York State swimmers as opposed to just the Section 2 swimmers, and obviously my kids and my team,” Melanson said. “I’m trying to keep us at or above where we're at in the nation and such … and I try to do it with the level head that I have in keeping things fair for everyone.”
Melanson is one of nine inductees who will be enshrined at the Greater Capital Region Aquatic Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Clifton Park. They’ll be honored alongside the Hall of Fame’s annual award winners, such as the senior male and female Athlete of the Year, as well as the area’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
This year’s expansive class celebrates local legends and contemporary stars alike who have achieved historic success across high school, collegiate, masters, national, and international aquatics. The list of inductees includes:
Brandon Birchak (Diving; Shaker High School/The College of Saint Rose)
Amy Bopp (Swimming; Clifton Park/Ohio State University)
Maria Coomaraswamy-Falkenstein (Coaching; RPI, Union/Flip and Rip Diving Club)
Mike DeRocco (Swimming; Niskayuna/University of Tennessee)
Sean Maxwell (Swimming; Troy High School)
Ann Svenson (United States Masters Swimming)
Barb Thomas (Adaptive Sports; Special Olympics New York)
Jack Ward (Officiating; Section 2/NYSPHSAA)
Saratoga Srpings’ Anderson Baird will be honored at the Senior Male Athlete of the Year, while Niskayuna’s Madison Wolfort will be crowned Senior Female Athlete of the Year. The Saratoga Springs girls’ swimming and diving staff, led by head coach Josh Muldner, alongside Dave Longbrake, Kevin Colella, Rachel Nacheman, Jim Wright, and Madeleine Wood, will be awarded Coaching Staff of the Year. More information about the ceremony and its honorees can be found at capitalregionaquaticcenter.org/.
"We are thrilled to welcome these iconic figures and celebrate our annual award winners," said Tim Sinnenberg, the President of the Greater Capital Region Aquatics Hall of Fame in a news release. "From shattering decades-old records and pioneering inclusive pipelines to dominant state championship performances, this group represents the absolute pinnacle of athletic excellence, service, and coaching mastery in our community."
Melanson, 51, founded Learn to Swim program at Schenectady, in addition to 26 years as Patriots head coach
