Reported by Jared Anderson.
After winning his NCAA-record 15th team points title, University of Texas swim coaching legend Eddie Reese is retiring. That marks the end of a 43-year stint in Austin.
Reese coached the Texas Longhorns from 1979 through 2021. His tenure with Texas has been legendary. Reese’s swimming & diving programs won 15 NCAA team titles. Reese-led teams won national team titles in five different decades (the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s). He finishes his career with four more NCAA team titles than any other coach in NCAA men’s swimming & diving history.
“Where we are today and where I am today is made possible by everyone who has swum here before and is swimming here now,” Reese said in Texas’s press release this afternoon. “They are such a big part of the success of this program. When people get together with the mindset of accomplishing something, even though it is tough during that year in time, it just adds up to something truly amazing. I want to thank those guys who trusted me, did all the hard workouts and made the sacrifices in and out of the water. It has been an honor for me to be a part of this program.”
“I am going to be a coach emeritus. That means I can still help and I want to do that. It’s important for all of us. Working with swimmers has been one of the true joys of my life, and I definitely want to keep doing that. In my long life, I’ve discovered that the most important thing for us to do in this world is help others, whether it be for something simple or complex. Coaching allows me to do that.”
Texas says that for the time being, assistant coach Wyatt Collins will take over as interim head coach, with Reese remaining in an “emeritus role.” Reese will continue to coach through this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, when his retirement will become official.
I had the honor of swimming for Coach Reese at AUBURN(72-76). Coach Reese is not only a FANTASTIC Coach, but a even better Human Being.
Much respect to Coach Reese on an outstanding career. A point of clarification, however, regarding the above claim: He may be the leading record holder for NCAA team titles in Division 1 men’s swimming, but Jim Steen at Kenyon still holds the record for all of NCAA team titles, men (31) and women (23).
DI vs DIII…big difference!
National titles are national titles. Going all snobby on this, now?
Lol come on man, don’t make people put you down just because you’re making outlandish claims.
D3 national titles are not the same as D1 national titles. You know it, I know it, he knows it, we all know it. Good for Kenyon for winning them! They should celebrate their achievements. But if you try to make it into something that it’s not, you’ve got nobody to blame but yourself when people start bagging on D3 swimming. You forced them into it.
Just asking for respect where respect is due. If you can’t extend it, that says more about you.
The day Eddie oficially retires, the tower should be lit next 15 days (one for every tittle) with GOAT written on it.
Man I wish I could’ve swam under this man
If you told me he’s been there 43 years, I would have guessed way more than 15 titles. It seems like they’ve won way more than that. I wonder how many of his 43 seasons saw a top 5 finish.
I’ll miss Eddie! Well done!
Well, 15 titles, 12 runner up, and 7 at third place has 34 top 3 finishes. I’d imagine around 40 top 5 finishes, though I’ve never actually counted. His ability to adapt and learn and evolve for decades is what makes him so legendary. Just grateful that he’s still going to be involved in swimming in the future, though in a lesser role.
15 wins
12 times second
3rd and handfuls of times makes it 3/4 of his years top 3
Yeah but think of it this way. During Eddie’s tenure, Texas has won 35% of the available NCAA titles. By comparison, with 7 wins out of 21 seasons, Tom Brady has only won 33% of available Super Bowls.
Who has coached the most NCAA individual winner’s? Surely it’s between Eddie or Doc?
I don’t know about the numbers, but Doc is certainly his only peer.
What’s the obsession with this song? Love the Eddie clips but come on SS get a new song for your videos!
The song is a little try hard cringe too
It’s royalty free.
What a total legend!! A man that cared more than anything