Southwestern Announces Steve Wiggs Elevated to Head Swimming & Diving Coach

Southwestern College announces Steve Wiggs as its head swimming and diving coach. 

After a standout debut season with the Jags, Wiggs takes over from Matt Ustaszewski, who led the program to where it is today.  Ustaszewski became the head coach of the UCSD men's water polo team in 2022 and recently completed his third year for the Tritons. 

"We are thrilled to have Steve Wiggs as our new head swimming & diving coach" Ron Valenzuela Director of Athletics said. "Steve is a South Bay native who brings a fresh perspective, an impressive background, a wealth of experience and record of steady achievement in both high school and club swimming.  During the season it became abundantly clear that Steve shares our firm commitment to build and maintain an intercollegiate program that pursues championship success and performs at the highest level.  Steve is a talented head coach who I believe can have an immediate impact at Southwestern College."   

Last season, Wiggs played a pivotal role and helped guide the Jaguars to a 2nd-place finish at the Men's Conference Championships, and the highest overall team standing in program history (ahead of PCAC Conference champion Grossmont) at the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships in Santa Rosa, CA.    

Wiggs worked with Troy Schalge who finished 5th at the CCCAA State Championships in the 200 Butterfly - a new school record (1:53.47).  Troy also finished 12th in the 100 Backstroke and 22nd in the 500 Freestyle.

Jared Ritchie finished 13th in the State in the 200 Backstroke and 14th in the State in the 100 Back, setting school records and career best times. He also finished 25th in the 50 Freestyle.

Mary Jackson finished 14th in the 100 Butterfly and 18th in the 200 Breaststroke, setting school records and career bests.

"I'm incredibly excited to start my journey at Southwestern College.  I'm extremely eager to bring my passion, commitment, and energy to this team, and I look forward to working with each individual swimmer to help them achieve their full potential in and out of the water.  Southwestern College is special to me.  I've lived, swam, and coached swimming in the community for my entire life, and I'm grateful to continue to serve in our community.  Thank you to everyone that has supported me along the way."

Steve Wiggs has coached multiple levels of swimming and water polo in the South Bay since 1990. He is an ASCA Level 4 coach and has coached for multiple USA Swimming programs including Bonita Aquatic Development (1991-1993), South Bay Aquatics (1993-2003), Sunset Swimming Streamliners (2003-2010), Sol Swim Team (2017-2023), and Sea to Desert Swim Association (2024 - current). Wiggs served as the head coach at Bonita Vista High School for 16 years (1994-2010), and at Eastlake High School for 11 years (2014-2025).

During his high school coaching tenure, Steve coached his teams to 26 Girls Mesa League Conference Championships, and 26 Boys Mesa League Conference Championships, 2 Girls Mesa League Championships in Water Polo, and was selected as the Metro League Swimming Coach of the Year 12 times.  Since the onset of the CIF Swimming State Championships in 2015, he has had 8 individual swimmers qualify in 13 individual events (which includes swimmers who would have qualified in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic), 6 relay teams, 6 individual finalists, and one CIF State Champion in 2022, Emily Lundgren, in the Girls 100 Breaststroke.

As a club coach, Wiggs has coached on 3 San Diego-Imperial Western Zone Championship teams, 4 San Diego-Imperial All Star swim teams, and was twice nominated for Age Group Coach of the Year by the San Diego American Swim Coaches Association. In addition, his swimmers have held many San Diego-Imperial Swimming records, and national rankings.

Steve Wiggs holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and is on his way to completing his Master's degree in Education. Coaching has allowed him to combine his background in education, expertise in swimming, and motivational skills to inspire any level of student-athlete to achieve their goals. Wiggs is known as a stroke technician. He believes technique, flexibility, and strength are important parts of building injury free swimmers, and he believes in the late Richard Quick's philosophy of teaching posture, line, and balance at all levels for success. When he is not coaching, Steve enjoys spending time with his family, son Keli'i Pietila-Wiggs (20), and his wife of 26 years, Ronne Pietila-Wiggs.