Pelton Adds Gebhardt, Homans to Coaching Staff

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – With the start of the 2026-27 academic year approaching swiftly, Cal State Bakersfield's first-year Director of Swimming & Diving Shane Pelton has added a pair of talented coaches to help lead the Roadrunners.

Zac Gebhardt – Lead Assistant Coach

A member of the swimming coaching community for the better part of two decades, Gebhardt brings an abundance of experience to Bakersfield. Most recently, he spent a season as an assistant coach at UCLA, helping the Bruins place 14 NCAA qualifiers and break four program records.

Gebhardt also brings familiarity with mid major swimming, having spent the six years prior at UC San Diego, starting out as an assistant coach before his promotion to Top Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator in 2022. In his time with the Tritons, Gebhardt helped the program successfully navigate the transition from NCAA Division I to Division II. UCSD produced US Olympic Trials qualifiers in both 2020 and 2024, won a women's team conference title in 2022, and produced 20 NCAA All-Americans during Gebhardt's tenure.

Originally from Monroeville, Penn., Gebhardt got his professional start as the Head Coach of Moon Aqua Club before joining the collegiate coaching ranks with the University of Mount Union.

Gerhardt on joining the `Runners: "I want to thank Head Coach Shane Pelton for this opportunity. Shane has done incredible things while at Cal State East Bay and I have no doubt he will do incredible things here at Cal State Bakersfield. I am excited to be a part of this journey and am looking forward to all that we can accomplish here at Cal State Bakersfield."

Pelton on Gebhardt: "Zac brings a wealth of coaching experience, professionalism, and exceptional organizational skills to our program. He understands what it takes to build a successful Division I program, both on the deck and behind the scenes. His attention to detail, leadership, and ability to create a structured environment will elevate every aspect of our program, and I'm excited for the impact he'll have on our student-athletes and staff."

Harry Homans – Assistant Coach

Relatively new to the coaching sphere, Homans brings a lifetime of swimming knowledge to the `Runners. With two years of club coaching experience under his belt, Homans spent the 2024-25 season at Fordham University as the Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator, adding 24 student-athletes to the men's and women's rosters that season. He then traveled to England where he competed as a member of the Sprint High-Performance Group at Loughborough University, the top swimming squad in the United Kingdom.

A native of Barrington, R.I., Homans began his collegiate swimming career at the University of Georgia, where he was a two-time CSCAA All-American, prior to transferring to the University of Southern California. Homans closed out his collegiate career with the Trojans earning several Pac-12 Championships finals appearances as well as a spot at the US Olympic Trials.

Homans on joining the `Runners: "I'm incredibly excited to join Coach Shane Pelton and the CSUB Swimming & Diving family. From my conversations with Shane, it was clear that he is building a culture centered on relationships, development, and long-term success, and that's something I wanted to be a part of. I'm looking forward to helping our student-athletes reach their full potential while continuing to grow the program together as a staff."

Pelton on Homans: "Harry brings a genuine passion for the sport of swimming, along with an elite competitive background that will resonate with our student-athletes. Having trained and competed at the highest levels, including his experience with USC, he understands what it takes to succeed both in and out of the pool. His enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and commitment to developing young people make him an exciting addition to our staff, and I'm looking forward to watching him grow while making a positive impact on our program."

Stay tuned for news on a new Diving Coach joining the `Runner staff in the near future.

~GoRunners.com~

Print Friendly Version

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

Pelton Adds Gebhardt, Homans to Coaching Staff