Last night, the president of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford penned an email to the staff, faculty, and students, informing them that the head men’s and women’s swim coach, Ed Bahan, passed away after suffering a heart attack.
Bahan joined the program for the 2008-09 season, just two years after it’s inception. He was in his seventh season with the team and has enjoyed a lot of success over that time. During his tenure, his swimmers broke every school record, establishing more than 200 records along the way, and four of his swimmers were tabbed as the AMCC Swimmer of the Year. Bahan has been named the men’s and women’s AMCC Coach of the Year five times, and he has coached 46 all-conference performers.
Prior to joining Pitt-Bradford, Bahan served as the head swim coach at the Pittsburgh Tidalwaves Swim Club from 1999 to 2007. He was the assistant swim coach and the head strength coach at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh from 1995 to 2002. Bahan helped guide the men’s squad to a fourth-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Division II National Championships. Bahan served as the head coach at Plum (Pa.) High School from 1996 to 1999. As an athlete, he qualified for the 1980 US Olympic Team Trials. He swam for Pitt in college where he was a 7 time Big-East Champion.
Below is the email that was sent out by the University President, Dr. Alexander:
“Dear members of our Pitt-Bradford family,
It is painful and distressing to once again share some very sad news. Our Men’s and Women’s Swim Coach Ed Bahan passed away this evening after suffering a heart attack. We are all devastated by this news, particularly our student-athletes and athletic department staff. I ask that you keep Ed and his family in your thoughts and prayers. As we receive details about arrangements, we’ll communicate those details to you.
Livingston Alexander”
The Pitt-Bradford athletic department lost a great coach, but an even better man tonight. Rest in peace, Coach Bahan. You will be missed.
— UPB Athletics (@UPB_Panthers) November 6, 2015
Wow thank you so for such kind words for my father. He is so incredibly touched too, watching us from above. My father’s passion for swimming was a truly special connection and I am lucky to have learned so much from him about swimming and life in general. He was such a wise, kind man. Although I wish I had about a million more years with him I know he will live on and I take so much comfort in all of your memories and love for him. Please anyone feel free to email to me get in touch at [email protected]. I would love to hear any and all stories you have about him. I think I’d like to… Read more »
Wow thank you so for such kind words for my father. He is so incredibly touched too, watching us from above. My father’s passion for swimming was a truly special connection and I am lucky to have learned so much from him about swimming and life in general. He was such a wise, kind man. Although I wish I had about a million more years with him I know he will live on and I take so much comfort in all of your memories and love for him. Please anyone feel free to email to me get in touch at clarabahan at gmail dot com (won’t let me post actual) I would love to hear any and all stories you… Read more »
I was a teammate of Ed’s at Peddle . Along with Mike Smith, Jim Wong and myself, Ed set a nation prep medley relay record. He was one of those guys with the most beautiful , graceful styles in the water. Very glad the four of us all got together in person last year. Looking to find out about arrangements.
Always a true friend. you taught me so much,Love you and miss you forever.
Terrible news. I knew Ed since i started coaching in 05 and also had some fun times with him at zones. I remember his “laugh”, which is an inside joke. RIP Ed, and I hope you enjoy the big pool in the sky where the chlorine never burns your eyes, the lanes are never overcrowded and the ventilation is always working
I grew up swimming with Ed for Hampshire Hills and Bernal’s Gators. We had the opportunity to reconnect as coaches at a meet in Buffalo over the summer. He was a great man, a great friend, and shared his tremendous love of the sport with everyone. He will be sorely missed.
I swam w/ Ed at Penn State before he transferred to Pitt…… So many great memories of a great friend….you will be missed… RIP..
We always enjoyed Ed at our December invite. We will miss him!!!! Our thoughts are with his team, family and loved ones…..
I am deeply saddened to learn we have lost Ed. He was my first swim coach back in the mid 80’s in NH, and is largely responsible for my love of swimming and belief in the power it has to improve lives. The impact Ed had on the swimming world goes way beyond just the swimmers he coached but also the trickle down effect of his influence through others. He had a warmth you could feel in his presence. I will miss Ed very much.