AMHERST, Mass. –– University of Massachusetts men’s swimming and diving head coach Russ Yarworth announced his retirement following a 41-year tenure.
“It is with great admiration that we celebrate and congratulate Russ on his amazing career guiding our men’s swimming and diving and water polo programs over a 41-year span,” said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. “Only a small percentage of coaches attain a high level of competitive success and true student-athlete impact during their careers. Russ is certainly one of those coaches. He has been a remarkable leader, mentor and friend to our athletics staff and his student-athletes, which has enriched UMass Athletics for four decades. Russ has earned the respect of his colleagues as a great coach, but more importantly, as a genuine, passionate and inspiring person. We wish him well as he steps ‘off the deck’ for the last time and into the next chapter of his life.”
Yarworth took over the helm in 1979 and guided the Minutemen to eight consecutive New England Championships from 1985-1993 while picking up his first coach of the year honors after the Minutemen won the championship in 1993. Yarworth led the Minutemen to 16 Atlantic 10 Championships, including the first during the 1995-96 season when he was tabbed the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year for the first time on his way to earning the honors a conference record 14 times in a 20-year span.
“It’s been a tremendous privilege to lead the UMass Swimming and Diving program as well as the water polo team through all these years,” said Yarworth. “My life has been truly enriched by all the student-athletes I’ve had the opportunity to coach. I can’t say enough about all the coaching colleagues, support staff, and administrators who have made this the best job in the world. I must thank long time women’s swim coach Bob Newcomb and diving coach Mandy Hixon for all the fun times and coaching challenges we’ve faced together. I’d also like to thank Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford for his support of the swimming and diving program and the vision for the future for all of UMass Athletics. I couldn’t be happier to be passing my stopwatches on to my great friend and assistant coach Sean Clark. I know the program will thrive and grow under his leadership. Finally, but certainly not least, I thank my beautiful wife Sue for all the support, patience, and advice during this amazing career and life experience.”
Under Yarworth, UMass recorded championship streaks of five and six consecutive titles as they won the league crown 11 times during a 12-year run from 2000-2012. The Minutemen picked up five Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Performer honors to go along with six A-10 Most Outstanding Diver awards as UMass claimed 90 individual conference titles under Yarworth’s direction.
A 1978 UMass grad, Yarworth was a four-year member of the swimming and water polo teams and served as a team captain of both squads during his season year. Yarworth also served as the head water polo coach at UMass from 1987-2001, posting a 335-131 record to go along with eight Eastern championships. A 2007 inductee into the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame, Yarworth led the Minutemen to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship tournaments, including a third-place finish and four fourth-place showings.
Release courtesy University of Massachusetts Athletics Communications
