 |
 |
|
|
|
|||
|
|||
 |
|||
Virginia’s Smyth named head swimming coach
Bill Smyth, who is credited with helping develop successful men’s and women’s swimming programs at the University of Virginia as the Cavaliers’ assistant head coach during the past eight years, has been named head coach of BU’s men’s and women’s swimming teams.
Smyth takes up his new position on July 1, succeeding Reagh Wetmore, who retired at the end of the 2004-2005 season. Wetmore had been the Terriers’ head coach since the inception of the swimming program 30 years ago.
“It will be an honor to be working at Boston University,” says Smyth. “The people I met during the interview process were the deciding factor. With the new pool at the Fitness and Recreation Center, Boston University and the athletic department have taken a major step in their commitment to excellence, not just in the America East Conference but on the national level as well.” With more swimming lanes, wider decks, and off-deck seating for 700 spectators, the new pool is ideal for hosting tournaments. Indeed, next year’s America East swimming and diving championships will take place at Boston University in February 2006.
A five-time All-American swimmer for the Cavaliers who graduated in 1994 with a degree in psychology, Smith has coached Virginia’s distance and individual medley swimmers and has been heavily involved in the program’s recruiting efforts. The Virginia men’s team won its seventh straight Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) title this year and finished 13th overall in the NCAA tournament. Two of his swimmers earned First Team All-American honors. In addition, the women’s team placed second at the ACC after winning the team title the previous two years.
As a swimmer for Virginia, Smyth specialized in the 400 individual medley. He won six ACC individual titles, set the school and ACC records in the 400 individual medley in 1994, was selected to the ACC 50th Anniversary Men’s Swimming and Diving Team, and was a finalist at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 individual medley. He made the finals at USA Nationals meets several times as well.
A native of Norristown, Pa., Smyth has international coaching experience, serving as an assistant coach for the Macedonian Olympic team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He has been an assistant coach for some of the top club teams in the nation, among them the Jersey Wahoos and the Phoenix Swim Club, both of which sent swimmers to the 1996 Summer Olympics.
“Bill Smyth is the finest distance coach in all of college swimming,” says Mark Bernardino, Virginia head coach and Smyth’s collegiate coach.
3
June 2005
Boston University
Office of University Relations