Former Ohio State swimming & diving head coach and ASCA CEO Bill Wadley has died after a bout with pancreatic cancer.
It was learned in late June that Wadley had an “aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.”
Wadley was the longtime coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, leading the program for 28 years, with his tenure ending after the 2016-2017 season when he announced his retirement.
During his time at OSU Wadley coached 16 Olympians, 30 Big Ten champions, earned the 2010 Big Ten Coach of the Year award, and posted an impressive 253-42 dual meet record.
Less than a year after leaving Ohio State, Wadley was named the Director of the Youth Swim Program for the Des Moines YMCA in Iowa.
Beginning in October 2020, Wadley had a brief stint as CEO of the American Swimming Coaches’ Association (ASCA) through January 2021. He resigned after a vote of no-confidence by the Board of Directors following several legal issues.
During his time at OSU, Wadley also spent time as the Technical Swimming Chairman for the International University Sports Federation (FISU), which organizes the World University Games. He has also been a board member for USA Swimming and was on the NCAA’s peer mentoring committee.
He also has plenty of international coaching experience, being a member of the USA team staff at the 1991, 1993 and 2009 World University Games, the 1998 Goodwill Games and the 2011 Duel in the Pool.
Prior to OSU, Wadley spent two years as the men’s swimming coach at Michigan State University, coaching the women’s team in his final year with the Spartans as well.
Wadley, a native of Rockford, Ill., was a 1979 graduate of Austin Peay State University. Wadley leaves behind his wife, Gail, and two sons, Brian and Michael.
R.I.P. Bill.
I have long been a very critical individual having swam under him and being in Columbus.
Bill did a lot of good. He was paramount in getting McCorkle built which has had a positive impact on thousands. He was a OK coach that I think did a solid job with what talent he had.
Bill also did a lot of bad. He constantly lied to recruits and swimmers about “an average of X % over 4 years” for scholarships. He recruited just to bring bodies in and did not care who stayed really. He would exercise up on his stationary bike in the stands while the team practiced not caring at all. He had dozens of “nieces” and Gail his… Read more »
Yeah, I too have always been somewhat critical of Wadley as a coach.
I can confirm that Wadley would lie to recruits. During my recruiting trip, Wadley outright lied to me about a couple of things. (For example, Wadley showed me the football team’s weight room and implied that this was where the swim team lifted weights–but it totally wasn’t.) And some of my teammates back in the day would tell stories about how Wadley had misrepresented things to them when they were recruits (like the length and severity of Ohio winters). The general feeling was that Wadley would tell recruits just about anything to get them to come to OSU. (But I know that other NCAA Division 1… Read more »
I’m sorry but a coach in Ohio said “no the winters aren’t that bad” to a recruit and you consider that a moral failing?
In 2022, my standards have been raised on “lies” lol.
It’s bloody Ohio for pete’s sake!
I wouldn’t call it a moral failing, but it was an example of a general pattern of behavior that I found disappointing.
Rest in Peace Bill Wadley
So sorry to hear this. A great coach, man, husband and father. Always professional and kind. A great loss for our sport and Ohio State.
Condolences to family, friends, team swimmers, and all others who are affected by Mr. Wadley’s passing.
So saddened to hear of Bill’s passing.
God Speed & Rest In Peace, Brother Hawkeye Coach.
Heaven’s swim team just got another Hell of a coach!!!
Yes
Sad, sad news. Good coach and good guy! My thoughts are with his family and close friends.
Coach Wadley was Awesome! Great to see Sidney Appelboom share his memories from 88 Seoul Olympics. Coach Wadley was my coach during my final NCAA season and his 1st at Ohio State. He led and enabled me to drop more time in a single season than I had the previous 4yrs combined. Bill enabled me to outpace Sergio Lopez in a relay split in Bloomington, IN and almost beat Mike Barrowman in my last dual meet in Ann Arbor. Coach Wadley had the energy, positivity and ‘can do’ attitude to get any of us to step up and compete against world class swimmers. Thank you Bill! Rest in peace, God’s glory and Christ’s love.