After 40 seasons at the held of the University of California – Santa Barbara Gaucho swimming & diving program, head coach Gregg Wilson will coach his final home meet this Saturday.
Wilson announced at the beginning of this season that 2015-2016 would be his last year as head coach at UCSB, marking 40 seasons with the school.
Wilson took over the men’s swimming & diving team in 1975, and became the head of the women’s program 10 years later in 1985. His men’s program went on a run of 23 straight Big West Conference titles beginning in 1979, and he eventually won 36 conference championships in all between his men’s and women’s teams.
Among the biggest names he coached were Olympians Jason Lezak and Richard Schroeder, each of whom won gold medals – Lezak won four total while swimming in the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and Schroeder won two golds between the 1984 and 1988 Olympics Games.
The final home meet for Wilson will be this Saturday’s matchup with Cal Poly. From there, UCSB will move on to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships in February and the NCAA Championships in March.
“Gregg has been such a big part of UCSB athletics and touched the lives of so many student-athletes and fellow coaches over the years we marvel at all of his accomplishments,” UCSB Athletic Director John McCutcheon said in the team’s press release announcing Wilson’s retirement last fall. “As we enjoy his final season our goal is to recognize his incredible contributions to the campus and the sport of swimming appropriately.”
“How lucky I have been,” said Wilson in the same release. “We have a world class university, in a world class location and I’ve coached world class student-athletes. At times the 40 years seemed so long, but in retrospect it seems so short.”
Stay tuned to SwimSwam.com for full coverage of this weekend’s UCSB-Cal Poly dual and the rest of the weekend’s NCAA action.
It takes a special person to dedicate their life to anything for 40 years! Gregg’s legacy reaches far and wide and will go on forever! So glad to have been part of it in the good ole 80s!
For one of the very finest gentlemen I know. I have more respect for the man than I can possibly express here. Wishing you (and your family) a fabulous retirement!
Gregg – you have always been one of the classiest men in our sport. Thanks for always being a role model throughout those 40 years.
While I wish to see you still coaching and inspiring young people I applaud you for a transition and know you have built a strong legacy at UCSB. Looking forward to seeing the Gauchos at MPSF Championship. And know they will make you proud.
Congrats Gregg!! Through our many years, I have had interaction with enough of your Gaucho student athletes (Carri Cook being one that works with us today) to know that they were not just better swimmers because of you, but more importantly better people. I share their admiration for the lifelong influence you had on so many for so long.
Gregg, Congratulations on an awesome run. From playing water polo and swimming at Las Lomas to well deserved world-class status at a premier program. Your impact is immeasurable. But, I gotta say it!!!! Go Bears!
Congratulations Gregg! You are such a great coach, but more importantly you are a great person. So lucky to have been coached by you. Thanks for some of the greatest years of my life. Go Gauchos!
Never met a person with a bad thing to say about Gregg. His constant positive attitude and ability to inspire people is unmatched. Congrats on an amazing career!