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College of Staten Island Athletics

COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND ATHLETICS

Women's Swimming & Diving Coaching Staff

4925Michael Ackalitis
Head Coach

Years: 14th Year
Won-Lost (Pct.): 61-74 (.452)

Phone: (718) 982-3162
Email: Michael.Ackalitis@csi.cuny.edu

Making his collegiate coaching debut in December of 2011, Ackalitis has brought a wealth of experience to the College in just a short period of time.  A native of Staten Island and the swimming circuit, Ackalitis was an accomplished swimmer at Monsignor Farrell High School, where he excelled in the freestyle and butterfly strokes, while also diving for the Lions.  

In only the second full year of his coaching career, Ackalitis took home a CUNYAC title on the men's side and the Dolphins repeated as champions every year since till 2016-17.

Ackalitis went on to a decorated four-year swim career at St. Peter's College in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he  team captain in 2009 & 2010, and made four successive trips to ECAC postseason competition, again in freestyle and butterfly events.

Alongside his collegiate swim career, Ackalitis served as a volunteer instructor with the Lightning Wheels club swim program at St. Peter's, while also serving as an Assistant Manager at the Richmond County Country Club, where he helped oversee pool operations, lifeguard training meetings, and safety certifications.

After graduation, Ackalitis continued to serve at St. Peter's as Assistant Swimming and Diving Coach for the 2010-11 season, while also holding the school's Assistant Aquatics Director position.  He also served as an assistant coach of the Monsignor Farrell High School team as well.  

Michael Ackalitis
YEAR-BY-YEAR
Year Overall CUNYAC
2011-12 1-3 ^ 1-1C 
2012-13 7-2 5-1C
2013-14 6-5 4-2C
2014-15 5-7 4-2C
2015-16 4-7 4-2C
2016-17 5-6 4-2C
2017-18     5-7 4-2C
2018-19  5-6 4-2C
2019-20 7-5 0-0
2020-21 N/A N/A
2021-22 2-7 N/A
2022-23 5-6 N/A
2023-24 5-7 0-3N
2024-25 4-7 0-4N
TOTALS 61-74 30-21
^ - Interim Year
C - CUNYAC
N - NE-10

 
 
                          
ANicholsonHS24Anastasia Nicholson
Assistant Coach
  
Phone: (718) 982-3245
   
A member of the CSI coaching staff since 2015, Nicholson is primarily charged with coaching CSI's accomplished group of divers on both the men's and women's sides on both the one-meter and three-meter boards, and has coached her units to a sweep of gold medals at the CUNYAC Championships each year.

A former accomplished swimmer at NCAA Division I St. Francis College from 2010-14 served as a lifeguard at St. Francis during her undergraduate stay, holding swim lessons as well.  Beginning in 2011, Nicholson became a coach at the Great Kills Swim Club on Staten Island, where she directs, teaches, and coaches swimming and diving for area youths ages 5-18.  She has done similar coaching with the NYC Parks Department at Lyons Pool, with stops at Our Lady Star of the Sea, and South Shore Swim Club.

Alongside her coaching duties at CSI, Nicholson is also a Pool Supervisor during off-coaching hours and served as administrative assistant at New York City's prestigious Trinity Boxing Club.
 
VillaHS24Derek Villa
Volunteer Assistant Coach

Email: Derek.Villa@csi.cuny.edu
Phone: (718) 982-3245

After joining the Swimming & Diving coaching staff in August of 2017, Villa departed for one year following the 2021-2022 season.  However, he returned to the staff for the 2023-2024 season as the Dolphins begin a new era in the history of the program as part of the Northeast-10 Conference. 

A four-year standout, Villa joined the Dolphins team as a student-athlete in 2013, and helped lead the Dolphins to four-straight CUNYAC titles.  Along the way, Villa earned four-straight CUNYAC All-Star citations, and was a part of the CUNYAC's All-Sportsmanship Team in 2016.  Villa was the second highest point-grosser as a senior with 540 points and his 12 gold medals as part of relay teams were tops on the team.  Villa is now expected to transfer that power back in the coaching circle.

Alongside coaching duties, Villa has been a lifeguard and Swim Instructor at the CSI Sports & Recreation Center.  Beginning in 2016, he was elevated to a Pool Supervisor, overseeing groups and members and safety operations.  From 2013-17, Villa was a part of both the St. Joseph by the Sea Boys and Girls and St. Peter's High School Boy's swim teams as an Assistant Coach.  A former standout also at St. Peter's, Villa is a founding father of the Upsilon-Gamma Chapter of Kappa Sigma at the College of Staten Island.  Having spent 2017-2022 with the Dolphins, he begins is now in the midst of his second stint as part of the team's coaching staff.
 
INicholsonHS24Isabella Nicholson
Assistant Coach

Phone: (718) 982-3245

Isabella officially joined the Swimming & Diving Coaching Staff in the fall of 2024. With a strong foundation in competitive swimming and leadership, Isabella brings valuable experience to the team. A former standout swimmer at Iona University, Isabella earned a Bachelors in English and a Masters in Business Administration while making significant contributions to the women's swim team. As team captain during her senior year, she led with dedication and excellence. Among her accolades are a school record in the 200 Freestyle, a key role in several conference-winning relay teams, and qualifying as an A finalist in all her main events throughout her five-year career at Iona.  Her competitive events included the 50 Free, 100 Free, and 200 Free, showcasing her versatility and skill in the pool.  As a coach, she arrives with 4 years of coaching experience at Westchester Country Club and Badger Swim Club.  Isabella is excited to foster athlete development, and is eager to contribute to the growth and success of CSI's Swimming & Diving program.