Albright College Athletics

Stuhltrager is back for his fifth year back in charge of the men's and women's swimming teams. Stuhltrager will look to add to his illustrious coaching career at Albright throughout the 2023-24 season and at the 2024 MAC Championships in the winter of '24. 

The 2022-23 season was a strong year in the pool for the women's program under the guidance of Stuhltrager in his fourth year back at Albright. Stuhltrager led two women's swimmers to gold at the MAC Championships in the 200 free and 200 IM. Stuhltrager was instrumental in helping Laurel Gingrich to being named MAC Swimmer of the Year during the 2022-23 season for earning two golds and one silver at the MAC Championships. 

The 2021-22 season marks the third season for Stuhltrager back at the helm of the Albright swimming program. Between the men's and women's teams, Stuhltrager led three different individuals to Swimmer of the Week honors. During the 2022 MAC Championships, Stuhltrager led the women's relay team to a silver medal as well as leading Joseph Guiliano to a second place finish. 

The 2020-21 season marked the second season back at Albright. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the season looked a little different but that did not slow down the Lions in the pool. Stuhltrager led the men's team to a third place finish at the MAC Championships as well as leading Devin Metzger to MAC Rookie of the Year. On the women's side, Stuhltrager led Maggie Jones to swimmer of the week honors as well as a sixth place finish at the MAC Championships. 

John Stuhltrager returns for a second stint as head coach of Albright's men's and women's swimming teams in the 2019-2020 season. In the 19-20 season, Stuhltrager led five different swimmers to Swimmer of the Week Honors. On the men's side Stuhltrager coached three individuals to program, MAC and MAC Championship records. The men finished second in the MAC Championships duiring 2020. 

From 2014 to 2019, Stuhltrager spent his time at MAC rival Stevenson University building a men's and women's swimming program from scratch.  Since 2014, Stevenson earned four individual MAC titles and one MAC relay title at championships and led his student-athletes to 15 First Team All-Conference and 14 Second Team All-Conference honors.  John earned the Women's Coach of the Year Award in 2017 and 2019 with Stevenson, with the women's Mustangs finishing in 4th place in MAC Championships in 2017.

Stuhltrager helped to establish Albright College as a powerhouse in the Middle Atlantic Conference from 2003-2014. In his 11 seasons at the helm, he has been voted MAC Coach of the Year 12 times (seven with the women, five with the men).

Both the men’s and women’s teams have thrived under Coach Stuhltrager’s leadership, compiling a collective record of 201-42-1 in the past 11 seasons. Throughout his time as head coach Stuhltrager has guided the men’s team to six MAC championship titles (2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) while the women’s team collected four consecutive titles from 2005 to 2008 before winning again in 2012 and 2013. Only twice has an Albright men’s or women’s team finished below second place at the conference championship meet with Stuhltrager in charge.

At the end of the 2013-14 season, Stuhltrager reached his 100th career dual meet victories with both the men's and women's teams, as well as achieving his 200th career win overall.

Senior Ralph Porrazzo earned two All-American honors at the 2014 NCAA championships- in the 200 back (fifth overall) and 100 back (honorable mention).

Along with the teams’ success, numerous individuals have been recognized for their outstanding achievements. Albright has brought home 11 David B. Eavenson Swimmer of the Year awards and eight Rookie of the Year awards during Stuhltrager’s tenure. In 2011, Stuhltrager made his first trip the NCAA Division III National Championship meet in Minnesota, after Chris Sheerer became the first male swimmer in program history to qualify for nationals.

Sheerer and Porrazzo have also earned CSCAA Scholar All-American honors during Stuhltrager's tenure, while Cindy Barner was named an Academic All-American.

28 conference records have been broken by Albright swimmers since Stultrager became head coach in 2003. The team record board has been re-written under his leadership, with 19 men’s and 18 women’s records being broken (out of 19 events).

Stuhltrager had an impressive collegiate career, swimming for both East Stroudsburg and Bloomsburg. Excelling in fly and sprint events, Stuhltrager held school records at both institutions and was named to the PSAC All-Conference team four years in a row.

Coaching has been a way of life for Stuhltrager since his days at Bloomsburg. He has more than 20 years of coaching experience with a wide variety of ability levels. Stuhltrager spent five years as a head coach at a YMCA, producing numerous district, state and national qualifiers. He also had success at the high school level as a co-head coach at Monsignor Bonner.

Stuhltrager began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach with Albright in 2001, working with Hall of Fame head coach Jenis Frederick for two years. During that time, the men’s and women’s teams won a combined three MAC championship titles.

Stuhltrager and his wife Heidi live in Lititz with their daughter Morgan and their son Brenden.