Tommy Johnson enters his second season with the Nittany Lions in 2025-26.
In 2025-26, the Penn State men’s team earned four meet wins, while the women’s team earned three meet wins.
On the men’s side, Mariano Lazzerini was tabbed a CSCAA second-team All-American. He also earned second-team All-Big Ten and was a two-time Big Ten Swimmer of the Week. Vicente Villanueva earned a Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Lazzerini broke Penn State records in the 100 Breaststroke (50.88) and 200 Breaststroke (1:50.76). Matthew Bittner set a PSU record in the 200 IM (1:43.17).
At the NCAA Championships, Lazzerini placed 12th in the 100 Breaststroke (51.41), the highest place in the event in Penn State history. He also finished 19th in the 200 Breaststroke (1:52.48), the best finish in the event in program history since at least 1990.
Lazzerini combined with Cooper Morley, Matthew Bittner and Tylor Kim for a 19th place finish in the 200 Medley Relay (1:23.28), the best PSU finish in the event since 2014. The team also placed 24th in the 400 Medley Relay (3:05.71).
At the Big Ten Championships, Lazzerini claimed second in the 100 Breaststroke and fifth in the 200 Breaststroke.
Bittner earned a spot in the A Final of the 100 Backstroke, finishing seventh. Morley claimed a spot in the A Final of the 200 Backstroke, placing eighth.
Bittner also finished ninth in the 100 Butterfly and 10th in the 200 IM.
Kim, Lazzerini, Rylan Anselm and Toni Slavica placed eighth in the 400 Freestyle Relay, while Anselm, Eduardo Cisternas, Kim and Slavica finished ninth in the 800 Freestyle Relay.
At the Ohio State Invitational, Lazzerini won the 100 Breaststroke and 200 Breaststroke.
On the women’s side, Margaret Markvardt placed 15th in the 100 Backstroke and 100 Butterfly, while finishing 17th in the 200 IM at the Big Ten Championships.
Aubrey Cohen (100 Breaststroke) and Morgan Moore (500 Freestyle) also qualified for finals at the Big Ten Championships.
Markvardt, Cohen, Cyrah Robinson and Katie Ketter placed 10th in the 200 Medley Relay.
Markvardt led the squad with 10 individual event wins this season, followed by Moore with eight.
Johnson brings a wealth of coaching experience at various levels, with two years of club coaching, two years in the Northern Kentucky Swim League, two years with the Man o’ War Swim Conference, and two years of collegiate coaching.
After a decorated college career at Asbury University as a team captain, Johnson went on to an assistant coaching role for the Eagles. He has served as a member of the coaching staff for two seasons. His responsibilities in Wilmore included developing practices, creating and implementing periodization plans, critiquing technique, and other various aspects of the sport, and supporting student-athletes in and out of the pool.
In addition to his position on the coaching staff, he also worked as an undergraduate admissions counselor, where he built relationships with high school students and their families interested in attending the university.
From 2021-23, Johnson was a lead coach for the Florence Hammerheads in Florence, KY. He worked with swimmers that ranged from age four to 18, creating an encouraging environment while implementing skills in the athletes. Beginning in 2024, he transitioned to a volunteer assistant coaching position with the Wilmore Dolphins based out of Wilmore, KY. where he inherited similar responsibilities.