Saint Joseph CT

Brenda Straker is in her fourth season as head coach at the University of Saint Joseph.

Most recently, she served as interim head coach at Trinity College during the 2013-14 season.

Straker had also coached at Clarkson University, the University of New Hampshire and Wesyelan University. While at Wesleyan, she coached 47 All-Americans from 1992-99 including a three-time national champion. Straker was honored in 1989 as the New England men’s Coach of the Year while at New Hampshire and the 1998 NESCAC Coach of the Year at Wesleyan. She has also coached at the Woodledge Pool & Tennis Club for the past seven years.

Straker graduated from Boston University in 1983 where she was a scholarship athlete and member of the swimming team for four years. A native of Longmeadow, Mass., she resides in Glastonbury with her husband Garry and their children Liam, Danny and Caleigh. 

Todd Watkins is in his fourth season at the University of Saint Joseph as the diving coach. 

Prior to coming to USJ, he was a youth coach for 10 years. A 1989 graduate of UCLA, he was the Pac 10 conference diving champion in 1987 and '88. He also competed in the first two X-games in bungee jumping.

In his first season, he helped Kim Royer to the GNAC championship in 1-meter diving.

A native of Burbank, Cal., Watkins now resides in Glastonbury.