Bill Wadley announced Tuesday he will retire as head coach of Ohio State’s men’s swimming team. Wadley coached 16 Olympians, 30 Big Ten Champions, and was named 2010 Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading his team to a conference championship. He was 253-42 in dual meets since taking over the program in 1989 and never had a losing record.
“I would like to thank Bill for all he has done for Ohio State men’s swimming during his tenure here in Columbus,” said Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith. “He has helped build this program into a consistent contender in the Big Ten and on the national stage. We wish him the best in his future endeavors and we appreciate all he has done for our student-athletes.”
Since his arrival in Columbus, Wadley helped build the Ohio State men’s swimming program into one of national prominence. Since 2007, the Buckeyes have finished among the Top 4 at Big Ten Championships each season in addition to finishing in the Top 20 at NCAA Championships. This year he extended that streak with a second place finish at Big Ten Championships and a 19th place finish at NCAA’s. In 2015, USA Today voted Ohio State as the No. 1 program for men’s swimming in the entire country for program success, academic quality, and student progress rate.
“Each and every day I counted my blessings for being able to coach at Ohio State and to work for the university that I love,” Wadley said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to work with all of the great student-athletes throughout the years. I’m very grateful for having had the opportunity to be a Buckeye coach and to have spent 34 years in the Big Ten. I consider my career to be quite a blessing and very special. I look forward to supporting the program and cheering on the Buckeyes as they move forward.”
In the pool, 19 of Wadley’s swimmers have been named All-Americans and 63 have earned honorable mention All-America status. In 2010, while hosting the Big Ten Championships, his team brought home the first conference title since 1956 and the 13th in program history. Under his tutelage 16 athletes have qualified for the Olympics, and he has had a swimmer compete at seven consecutive Summer Olympic Games.
Out of the pool Wadley has had more than 150 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors and 20 have been named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars. Just last week 26 swimmers were named Academic All-Big Ten, which was more than any other men’s swimming program in the conference.
Press release courtesy of Ohio State University.
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Bill Wadley I will be forever indebted to you for the year Alexi Kuska spent with you and Dave Rollins … I wish you Well — you told me once that Alexi “is a class act and is going to be one hell of a Head Coach someday” meant the world to her and me. Right back at you Coach! ?
Talk about a blast from the past! He was my age-group coach way back in the mid-80’s.
Enjoy retirement Bill! You will always be a class act
Congratulations Bill Wadley. Garrett’s mom here. We sent him to a Nike camp you spearheaded when Garrett was 13. Your coaching was his first swim camp and it was a totally positive experience. He went on to a variety of summer swim camp programs and much success in the sport. Kudos to you. Thanks much. Enjoy retirement.