University of California, Santa Cruz Women's Swimming

Newby (formally Joan Pegoda) begins her eighth year at the Helm of the UCSC Diving program. Each year her teams have grown and the coming year should produce the best yet. Joan is also the coach at nearby Cabrillo College. A native of Santa Cruz, Joan has lived here 45 years. A formal NCAA Division III All-American herself, Joan has brought that same competitive spirit to the diving program. Joan is currently a member of the Division III National Selection Committee, Head Coach at Cabrillo College, two local high schools, and Club Santa Cruz Diving Team. Joan has two children, Emily and Eric. She is an avid surfer and her picture can be seen in the Santa Cruz Surf Museum found at Steamer's Lane Light House.

Musch has been honored twice as a UCSC Coach of the Year, PCSC Conference coach of the year, and a recipient of the American Swim Coaches Association Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Coaching twelve times.   Musch spent his collegiate career at the University of California, Berkeley from 1973-1977. In his senior year, he was elected Team Captain. During his years as a swimmer at Cal, he watched Nort Thorton take a low scoring team at the Division I NCAA meet to the top five at his senior year meet (Cal then went on to win the NCAA's in 1979 and 1980 ). After coaching stints with Santa Cruz Aquatics and Chabot College in Hayward, Musch returned to Cal in 1981 as an assistant to Coach Thorton. That same year he formed the Golden Bear Swim Club. Well over a dozen Golden Bear swimmers went on to compete in the Olympic Games for various countries during his time as Head Coach. Several World records, US Open records, National records and Age-Group National Champions came out of the Golden Bear Swim Team during his tenure. Being able to convince coaching greats Nort Thornton, Karen Thornton, and Peter Tragitt, to join the coaching staff, the Golden Bear Swim Club was a regular top five finisher at both the indoor and outdoor US National Championships. Top five at the US Junior Nationals, and top three at the Far Western Age Group Championshiops. After leaving Cal, Musch worked several years at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville. Although the Blackhawk Swim Team was a small team of only 40 year-round swimmers, they went on to have Individual Junior National Event Champions, Senior National finalists, an Olympic Trial Qualifier, High School All-Americans, and numerous National top 16 age groups award winners.