Barrett Roberts begins his first season as head men’s and women’s swimming & diving coach at Wheaton in 2011-12.

"We are thrilled to welcome Barrett back home to Wheaton,” said Intern Director of Athletics John Sutyak ‘00. “Barrett was the epitome of a scholar-athlete, one who was equally as impressive in the classroom as he was in the pool.  He helped put our swimming & diving teams on the map both in New England and nationally, and I look forward to him continuing that tradition as the leader of our men's and women's programs."

Roberts returns to Norton after spending the 2010-11 season as a graduate assistant coach at New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival Springfield College. With his assistance, the Pride established nine school records and three NEWMAC records this past season. Roberts also saw seven of his student-athletes post national qualifying performances, four post All-America performances, and one post an All-America honorable mention performance.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to come back to Wheaton and coach a group of student-athletes who excel in the pool as well as the classroom,” said Roberts, who was responsible for coaching Springfield’s sprint group, designing dry-land and lifting programs for the squad, and home meet management duties. “Wheaton's swimmers and divers have always been exceptionally motivated individuals, and I look forward to working with the team as we strive to win our first NEWMAC championship." 

Prior to his appointment at Springfield, Roberts spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Tufts University (2008-10), helping the Jumbos score nine All-America performances during that span. He also spent two years as a waterfront and aquatics director at Camp All-Star (2005-07).

As an undergraduate at Wheaton, Roberts was a standout swimmer for the Lyons, earning All-America honors three times (2005-07) and NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year accolades in 2006. He was a three-year co-captain who earned College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America honors in 2004 and 2005. As a senior, Roberts took home the Linda Frances Epstein Award and the Outstanding Male Athlete Award. The Epstein Award is presented to a graduating senior who embodies respect for and commitment to the traditions of Wheaton in the achievement of academic excellence and dedicated performance in athletics.

"Barrett's time at both Tufts and Springfield, coupled with his experience here at Wheaton, make him an ideal candidate in continuing to recruit and retain high level student-athletes who will help us achieve our goal of winning NEWMAC championships,” added Sutyak.

Roberts, who left Norton with a bachelor's of arts degree in economics and political science after graduating magna cum laude, is currently working toward earning his master's degree in physical education from Springfield. Concentrating in athletic administration, he is set to graduate next May.

A former standout diver at Trinity College in Connecticut, Katy Shoemaker provides competitive and coaching experience in her fifth season with Wheaton.

During the 2010 season, one of Shoemaker's female divers competed at the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history. Six of the school's eight diving records between the men and the women also fell during the year. At the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships, a male and female diver each qualified for the finals in both the one- and three-meter events.

For the past four years, Shoemaker has run High Flyers Diving, an AAU age-group program based at Wheaton. During the 2005-06 school year, she assisted divers at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut, and also taught age-group diving at Trinity.

A four-year member of the Bantams' swimming & diving team, Shoemaker set school records in the one-meter, six-dives category and in the three-meter, 11-dives discipline.

Shoemaker earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in May 2006 and is currently enrolled at New England Law in Boston.

Jennifer Dempsey begins her second season as assistant swimming & diving coach at Wheaton in 2011-12.

A 1981 graduate of Cornell University, Dempsey has been coaching divers around the east region on and off for more than 30 years. She wet her feet in coaching by working diving camps at both Cornell (1978-81) and Army (1980) before a three-year stint as a volunteer coach at Boston College (1982-85).

Following a 25-year run as a corporate attorney at several different firms and corporations in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, Dempsey returned to the pool as a diving coach at Sharon High School in 2010. Currently, Dempsey coaches at both Mansfield and Norton High School.

Dempsey specialized in the one-and-three meter dive events at Cornell, where she helped the Big Red to three top 3 finishes at the Ivy League Championships. After receiving her bachelor of arts from Cornell, she spent four years in law school at Boston College before earning her J.D. in 1985.

Dempsey resides in Mansfield.