Maria Vira is in her 13th season as part of the coaching staff for Montclair State Swimming and Diving.
The former Red Hawk has taken a lead role in heading up recruiting efforts for the past 9 seasons and has helped produce outstanding dual meet results, numerous new school records, and New Jersey Athletic Conference champions. During her tenure, Vira also coached six swimmers who achieved DIII NCAA B Cuts. In 2015, Kathleen French posted an NCAA DIII B Qualifying Time in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:23.42 and placed 3rd overall at the NJAC Championship meet.
In 2017, Steven Roth posted NCAA DIII B Qualifying Times in both the 100 and 200 Butterfly with times of 49.14 and 1:49.92. At the NJAC Championship Meet, Roth was 3rd in the 100 Butterfly and 2nd in the 200 Butterfly. He would then be the 1st alternate to the NCAA DIII Swimming and Diving Championships. At the 2022-23 NJAC Championship meet, 2 swimmers posted NCAA DIII B Qualifying Times. Most recently, in the 2024-25 NJAC Championships, Rourke Peralta won the 100 freestyle with a NCAA "B" cut time of 51.19, was good enough for her to become the first swimmer since 1997 and the first woman swimmer since 1995 to compete at the Division III National Championship meet. In the same NJAC Championship meet, Michael Salvatori also earned an NCAA "B" cut time with a 3:58.57 400 IM time.
Vira also has several other roles in the athletic department. She assists in the branding and promotion of the Montclair State Athletic Department through graphic design and social media. She designs and assists in the production of logos and wall graphics for all athletic buildings and locker rooms for all sports. Vira also serves as the assistant budgeting and management assistant for the student workers in the athletic department. She is responsible for budgeting, hiring, and payroll for all student workers who work in multiple areas throughout the athletic department.
A graduate of Montclair State in 2013, Vira spent 4 years on the Red Hawks Swim Team and served as a captain her senior year.
