Former University of Michigan men’s swimming and diving coach Jon Urbanchek will be inducted into the University of Michigan’s 2016 Hall of Honor Class at the end of the month.
The University summed up his contributions to the school and success in the sport,
“He was the NCAA and American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1995 and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year eight times. During the NCAA championship run in 1995, Michigan won six individual national titles and one relay crown.
A member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Urbanchek had 26 swimmers at Michigan represent their countries at the Olympics with 10 individuals combining for 17 medals. He served as an assistant coach for USA Swimming at the 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and was a special assistant in 2008 and 2012. He also coached the 1994 and 1998 U.S. World Championship teams.”
Read more from the University of Michigan:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan athletic department will induct its 2016 Hall of Honor class on Friday, Sept. 30, with Mark Donahue (football), Lorne Howes (ice hockey), Kate Johnson (rowing) and Jon Urbanchek (men’s swimming and diving coach) joining the prestigious hall.
A private induction ceremony will be held Sept. 30 for the four individuals and their guests. The group will be publicly recognized Saturday, Oct. 1, as Michigan football hosts Wisconsin for the final of five consecutive home games to start the season.
Donahue graduated in 1978 with an education degree and is currently the regional vice president of sales at Anthem BCBS. A two-time All-America offensive guard (1976-77) and two-time All-Big Ten first team selection, he was drafted in the 11th round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Before playing two seasons in Cincinnati, Donahue helped U-M to a 38-7 record, including a 28-4 mark in conference play. During that span, the Wolverines won the Big Ten title in 1974, 1976 and 1977. U-M played in two Rose Bowl games and the 1976 Orange Bowl, and the Wolverines finished in the national top 10 all four years.
In three seasons, Donahue started 35 games for the Wolverines. He finished his career ranked second all-time for starts by an offensive lineman and now ranks 12th.
Howes earned his geological science degree from U-M in 1956. He was a two-time All-American and led Michigan to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. A goaltender, he made 47 saves in the 1955 national championship game against Colorado College and 37 saves against Michigan Tech in the 1956 national championship game.
The Wolverines won the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League championship in 1955-56 and finished 20-2-1 overall. Howes was the NCAA Frozen Four Most Valuable Player. The previous year he led U-M to an 18-5-1 record and was an NCAA Frozen Four all-tournament selection.
Johnson graduated in 2001 with a degree in political science before going on to work as the senior director of global sponsorship marketing for Visa. She was a 2004 Olympic silver medalist with the Team USA women’s eight and a two-time world champion in the event.
A three-time Collegiate Rowing Ccoaches Association first team All-American, she was the Big Ten Rower of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2000 and 2001) and a 2000 All-Big Ten first team pick. She was also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and three-time CRCA All-Central Region first team choice.
Johnson was instrumental in Michigan claiming its first two Big Ten rowing titles in 2000 and 2001. The Wolverines were NCAA runners-up to Washington in 2001, when Johnson helped the first varsity eight place third.
Urbanchek was the head coach of the men’s swimming and diving program from 1982-2004. He guided the Wolverines to the 1995 NCAA championship and 13 Big Ten titles in 22 seasons. The program won 10 straight conference championships from 1986-95. Overall his teams were 163-34 in dual meets with a 100-4 mark against Big Ten competition.
He was the NCAA and American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1995 and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year eight times. During the NCAA championship run in 1995, Michigan won six individual national titles and one relay crown.
A member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Urbanchek had 26 swimmers at Michigan represent their countries at the Olympics with 10 individuals combining for 17 medals. He served as an assistant coach for USA Swimming at the 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and was a special assistant in 2008 and 2012. He also coached the 1994 and 1998 U.S. World Championship teams.
The U-M Athletics Hall of Honor was established in 1978 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions as athletes, coaches and administrators to the tradition of Wolverine athletics and, in doing so, have enhanced the image and reputation of the University of Michigan.
Those student-athletes inducted into the Hall of Honor have met the following criteria, listed in order of importance: University of Michigan graduate; NCAA champion or national championship team member; All-American; national or conference player of the year; individual or team Big Ten champion; all-conference award recipient; U-M, Big Ten, NCAA, World, U.S. or Olympic record holder; U-M team captain; Olympic team member or medalist.
The following criteria is considered when selecting coaches: National Coach of the Year, NCAA team championship, coach of NCAA individual champions, previous induction into specific sport hall of fame.