Barry Fontaine begins his eighth year as the head women’s swimming coach at Rhode Island College. He took over the program in an interim basis during the 2016-17 season.
This past season, the Anchorwomen won four matches and finished sixth at the Little East Championship. In 2022-23, Fontaine led the Anchorwomen to a seventh place finish at the Little East Championship. In 2021-22, he guided the Anchorwomen to a 2-1 season, as RIC earned victories over UMass Dartmouth and Gordon. RIC finished fifth at the Little East Championship.
Fontaine and the Anchorwomen were able to navigate a very difficult 2020-21 season due to Covid-19 and were able to participate in three meets, which which included hosting the program's first-ever home meet at the Sandra Surdut Swimming Pool located inside the college's Recreation Center.
In 2019-20, Fontaine led the Anchorwomen to an 0-7 record, an eighth place finish at the Little East Championship and finished 20th at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championship. In 2018-19, RIC went 0-7 and finished seventh at the Little East Championship.
Fontaine led the Anchorwomen to a 1-7 overall record in 2017-18 and a seventh place finish at the Little East Championship.
Fontaine came to RIC with over 35 years of coaching and aquatics experience at various levels. A decorated coach at the club and high school level, Fontaine previously coached at East Providence, St. Mary's-Bay View and North Providence High School. He led Bay View to the New England Prep School Championships coached North Providence to the 1993-94 Class “B” Championship.
He has served for two decades as a High School and Collegiate Swim Official, while serving as the Recreation Director for the city of Cranston, the town of Narragansett, and the town of Somerset (MA). In 2013, Fontaine was inducted into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame.
Fontaine earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Rhode Island College in 1982. He resides in Cranston with his wife Lynne.
