Texas' Eddie Reese announces pending retirement after 46 seasons as men's swim coach
Legendary Texas men’s swimming coach Eddie Reese will retire from that position after next summer’s U.S. Olympic Trials, having won 15 national championships and established himself as the best coach in the history of the sport.
Reese, 82, told the American-Statesman on Friday that he still loves the job as much as ever, but it’s time to step down after a highly decorated, 46-year career that includes not only those 15 national titles, but 13 runner-up finishes. Starting in his second season at UT in 1978, he won the Southwest and Big 12 conference titles every year, giving him 44 straight championships.
“I’m definitely not tired of it,” Reese said. “I still work at it, and I still love it. But my movement skills have gone down from where they should be. It was going to happen some time.”
Reese informed his team of his intentions this week. He said he would be open to remaining on the Longhorns' staff as a third coach who doesn’t recruit or travel.
“I’d like that,” he said. “I’d either do that or coach 11- and 12-year-olds somewhere in the city.”
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said he doesn't even want to think about the ordeal of trying to replace such an iconic coach.
"I want Eddie to get all his flowers right now, and I don't even want to think about a successor," Del Conte told the Statesman. "I think Eddie Reese will go down as one of the greatest coaches of all time, on a par with John Wooden."
Reese definitely had success like the late UCLA basketball coaching legend.
Reese also served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic men's swimming teams in 2004 and 2008 and was an assistant coach for four other Summer Olympics. He will not be part of the 2024 U.S. team at the Paris Olympics next summer.
Asked about the Longhorns' chances of winning a 16th national title next spring, Reese said, "I would say no one will pick us to win, but I'm an eternal optimist, and I've got some freshmen who could make me famous."
He said he'll always continue to coach but looks forward to doing more dove hunting and enjoying life. That includes going to a Texas-Oklahoma football game.
"I've never been to a Texas-OU game," he said. "I'm 0-45. But I'm going this year."
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: After 15 national championships, Texas swim coach Reese to retire
