University of Florida associate head coach Martyn Wilby has announced his resignation from the program after 19 seasons in Gainesville. Wilby does not plan to pursue other opportunities to coach in the NCAA, a spokesperson for Florida confirmed.
“Martyn has been a remarkable asset to our coaching staff over the past 19 years and we are extremely grateful for everything he has brought to the table,” Florida head coach Gregg Troy said. “While we are disappointed that he will not be with us next season, we understand his desire to move on from collegiate coaching and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
“The impact he’s left on the men’s and women’s swim teams will not be forgotten,” Troy added. “We’re extremely fortunate to have had his dedication, passion, and professionalism each and every day for 19 seasons. He’s extremely knowledgeable in every aspect of the sport and I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for us. Florida swimming certainly would not be where it is today without his help over the years.”
Wilby arrived at the program in 1998, and during his tenure the team has won 330 dual meets, 6 SEC Championships, 34 individual national titles, and over 900 All-American honors.
He’s a native of Darlington, England, where he was a four-year letter winner at the University of Kentucky from 1982-1986 and also a member of the British National Team. He and Troy first coached together for 7 years at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, including being named the 1994 Florida Age Group Coach of the Year.
The Florida men finished 3rd at last year’s NCAA Championship meet, while the women’s team placed 19th. The men’s team has won 4 straight SEC Championships.
Coach Wilby’s comments:
“I’m eternally grateful for the experience I’ve had over the years and to work alongside so many extraordinary coaches and student-athletes,” said Wilby. “My time as a Gator has truly provided me with a rare opportunity that I would not have found anywhere else.
“When Coach Troy originally asked me to join the staff, my plan was to stick around for three to five years and help him get the program back on track. Little did I realize what was in store for me. Now, almost20 years later, my entire family and I have fallen in love with this university, this program, and the tremendous support system that surrounds it.”
“I’d like to thank Jeremy Foley for taking a chance on a couple of coaches from the Bolles Sharks Swim Club when he did. None of this would have been possible had we not been given the opportunity to join Gator Nation.
“I’d also like to thank coach Troy. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside him for 26 years now and I can’t thank him enough for bringing me along on this incredible journey. The relationship we’ve built goes far beyond two coaches and a shared office space. I truly value the connection that has formed between the Wilby family and the Troy family, and I look forward to continuing that relationship in the coming years.”
“As I leave Florida, I’d also like to extend one last thank you to our support staff, and everyone who has contributed to this team’s success over the years. There is no other university out there that could have made my time in the Orange and Blue so enjoyable and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to be a Gator.”
Like I said above, Wilby leaving was not the change Florida needed. Troy has produced countless amazing athletes, but the way he does it is not right. He is not supportive of his swimmers and does not treat them well. No apparel, no training trip, no respect for one another, terrible locker rooms. Swimmers at this age care about these things, especially recruits. If things do not start to change this team will begin to suffer, in fact it already has. Top 10 to 19th. It’s a shame because it is such an amazing school. Troy’s ways are too old school not good for modern times. He had his glory now time for some change.
Fact: Coach Troy “has produced countless amazing athletes” doing things his way… And he still manages to recruiting elite athletes and he is still winning. So you can agree that he must be doing something the right way… Every coach is different. Some things work for one coach that don’t work for another coach and vice versa.
So what, the women had an off year. The men are still winning and Coach Troy is still recruiting great athletes. Coach Troy is very straightforward and honest and the athletes that sign with UF like that about him and the Florida program. Troy doesn’t need new weight rooms or locker rooms to recruit elite athletes; they sign because they believe in… Read more »
I don’t know what knowledge base you are speaking from, but let me be the first to assure you that many of the statements you have made are entirely unfounded. As a current UF swimmer I know Coach Troy better than most, some may call my following opinions biased, I simply call them accurate. While it is known Coach Troy is intense, he is not cruel. He cares deeply for his athletes and for their success in and out of the pool. If someone has a problem he is the first to try to help. He has a wealth of knowledge about swimming and about life that not many can rival. I will not say I have never been yelled… Read more »
I’ve always thought that training trips provide more opportunity for distraction than team bonding. As you said, they are “18-22 year olds” who might be easily led astray, particular in today’s permissive environment. One more headache for the coach.
A little tangential to the above topic, but I have free time this morning.
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Great coach! Sad your leaving! Am sure the staff and all Gator swimmers share that feeling.
Coach Schultz leaving too. One person to blame… Gregg Troy. He needs to retire for the program to stay at its best.
Gregg Troy is a legend. First four people named to 2012 US Olympic team were coached by him. He made Lochte and Dwyer. He’s led Beisel to even more success than what she came in with. He’s accomplished literally everything there is to accomplish as a coach. How is he to blame? Do you know something the rest of us don’t?
Yes he may produce a few good swimmers but what really matters is that he does not treat his swimmer well at all. They receive no support from him, just putting fear in his swimmer is wrong, they need to be supported and feel like they can succeed, not constantly told they are horrible. The swim team is the only team on campus with no nike contract because Coach Troy took it away, they receive no apparel minus a few cotton t-shirts. They go no training trip…. This is very bad for recruiting, kids these days care about those things. Wilby will be missed but that was not the change Florida really needed.
I doubt Schultz is leaving. He’s just starting to build the diving program back up from the tragic loss of Donnie Craine, and his own daughter committed to UF. The program that Troy created built 50 PERCENT of the final of the men’s 200 IM at the last world championships, which is unprecedented representation at any World or Olympic level meet in the past 30 years. As mentioned, the first four swimmers who qualified for the Olympic Team in 2012 trained in Gainesville (and every single one of them left with at least one Olympic medal), the men’s and women’s 2011 world champions in the 400 IM (which were won decisively, by 4 and 2.5 seconds respectively) and gold and… Read more »
It’s already confirmed dale is leaving
Anyone know what Martyn will do now, club coaching or move on to something else?
Gary the snail you are ridiculous. Anyone who ever worked or swam for coach Troy knows it’s a whole team working together. And top 6 every year at ncaas is most schools dream
Will be gone
Sergio, don’t look at these comments!!! Auburn definitely needs someone like you right now!!
Don’t worry, the position at Florida is already filled.
Care to elaborate?
Best of luck Martyn! You will be missed!
Anyone else forsee Sergio jumping at Auburn before he even starts at running to Caeleb?
Steve Jungbluth is Calebs coach
I don’t think Sergio was ever his main coach at Bolles. I believe that was Jason Calanog. I do however, think that the UF position is better thanow the one he took at Auburn so…
Yes, NDB is correct. Sergio was not Caeleb’s coach…. Jason was so Sergio really didn’t partake in Caeleb’s success in club swimming.