Women's Swimming | 6/30/2026 5:00:00 PM
Saint Francis University will recognize its 2026 Athletics Hall of Fame Class on Friday, July 24. The class includes 11 student-athletes, one coach, and two teams. In the weeks leading up to the Hall of Fame ceremony, we'll spend the summer catching up with these standout athletes and celebrating the achievements that earned them a place among school's all-time greats.
LORETTO, Pa. -- So often in sports there is a demand for instant gratification. Add a new coach or a top recruit and there is the expectation to "win now."
"To win a championship at a place like Saint Francis everyone has to be invested and that was my experience there."
Before arriving on campus in 2003, Pat Gallagher is not certain he ever heard of Saint Francis University, but knows he couldn't find Loretto on a map.
The young, first-time swimming head coach never intended to stay long. But that brief career stop became home. Over the next decade he raised four championship banners, shaped the lives of countless student-athletes, and built a legacy that now earns him a place in the Saint Francis University Athletic Hall of Fame.
"I was really surprised when I got the call," Gallagher said. "I had recently been texting Jim Brazill (Saint Francis Director of Athletics) and told him we need to get some of my swimmers into the Hall of Fame. I'm excited that Elise (Lofgren) is getting in, too."
Elise Lofgren, who plans to reunite with her coach at the Hall of Fame ceremonies in July, was a key part of three championship teams.
"Pat is a very approachable and supportive coach. He made an effort to build a genuine connection with us," Lofgren said. "He had a strong teacher side and was always willing to explain his thinking, while also being open to feedback."
Gallagher studied education while swimming for La Salle University.
"I always knew I'd coach at the club or high school level. After a couple of years of teaching I realized I wasn't quite ready to be in the classroom, so I spent the summer applying to coaching jobs. I was so naïve — I wasn't getting any calls back."
He eventually landed an assistant coaching position at Cornell after the university created a new role. His first day on the job was Sept. 11, 2001.
"I remember walking into practice that afternoon and seeing one person in the pool," Gallagher said. "Her sister worked in lower Manhattan, and she hadn't heard from her."
Gallagher also recalled the irony that he had recently taught a high school lesson about Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.
He spent two seasons with the Big Red, serving as recruiting coordinator while assisting in all aspects of the program. Feeling ready to lead a team of his own, Gallagher accepted the opportunity at Saint Francis.
"I don't remember the exact number, but I might have had three kids returning that season," Gallagher said. "I was so excited. Here I'm talking about my plans to rebuild the program and I'm being told I need to find more kids if I want to be eligible to compete."
That first season, Saint Francis won two meets and finished in 11
th place in the conference championships.
"We had to be creative," Gallagher said with a laugh. "I remember convincing one of our freshmen to get her roommate, who was a cross country runner to join the team. I was teaching her how to dive before our first meet."
It didn't take long for Gallagher to find swimmers who made an immediate impact. They included such recruits as Megan Collins, Alicia Ford, and Hanna Yttring who transferred from Hawaii. Yttring, a native of Sweden, helped attract other international talent.
Gallagher also credits the arrival of Bob Krimmel, who became director of athletics in 2005.
"Bob came in with a genuine commitment to women's athletics," Gallagher said. "Take a look at the women going into this Hall of Fame class. He had a big role in their success."
In 2010, Saint Francis rewrote the record books capturing its first of four straight NEC Swimming and Diving Championships. The feat is even more impressive when you consider Gallagher did not have a dive team.
"Looking back on it we just had a group that really bought in. Not just to swimming, but academics too."
Since learning of his Hall of Fame induction, Gallagher said he and his wife, Megan, have spent time reminiscing about their years in Loretto.
One memory still makes him laugh.
The morning after winning an NEC championship in Boston, Gallagher and his wife were eating breakfast when team captains Jess Dunn and Chloe Pierre approached with a problem.
"They had these serious looks on their faces, so I asked, 'What's wrong?'" Gallagher recalled. "They said, 'The bus leaves at 10, but Mass won't be over until 10:30. Can we push back the departure time?'"
It was a moment that perfectly reflected the culture his teams had built.
After winning his fourth consecutive NEC championship in 2013, Gallagher made the difficult decision to leave Saint Francis. He and Megan were expecting their first child, and returning to Cornell offered the best opportunity for their growing family. He rejoined Cornell before eventually becoming the program's head coach, a position he still holds today.
