Jon Urbanchek
Encyclopedia
Jon Urbanchek is an American swimming coach, best known for his 22-year tenure (1982–2004) as the Men's Swimming & Diving Head Coach for the University of Michigan. He has served as a coach on multiple USA Swimming
National Teams, including at least 2 Olympic Teams (2004 & 2008).
He is of Hungarian descent; and he, himself, swam for Michigan from 1958-1962.
. He coached highly successful teams in both water polo and swimming. Highlights at AHS included a third place finish in CIF water polo in 1968 and a CIF team finals appearance in boys swimming in 1970.
Urbanchek left Anaheim High School in 1978 to become the head coach at Long Beach State, where he coached the 49ers swim program for five years. In 1981, he was named Pacific Coast Athletic Association Coach of the Year. He also coached on the international level for the first time, guiding the United States to a second place finish behind his native Hungary
at the 1979 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup
.
.
Urbanchek currently resides in Southern California where he continues to coach several world class swimmers in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.
Urbanchek was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
(ISHOF) in 2008.
Urbanchek was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2009
USA Swimming
USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. It is charged with selecting the United States Olympic Swimming team and any other teams which officially represent the United States, as well as the overall organization and operation of the sport within the...
National Teams, including at least 2 Olympic Teams (2004 & 2008).
He is of Hungarian descent; and he, himself, swam for Michigan from 1958-1962.
Prior to UM
After graduating from the University of Michigan, Urbanchek's first job was as a health teacher and aquatics coach at Anaheim High SchoolAnaheim High School
Anaheim High School is a public, four-year high school in the city of Anaheim, California, United States. Anaheim High School was first established in 1898, which makes it the oldest of nine comprehensive high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District...
. He coached highly successful teams in both water polo and swimming. Highlights at AHS included a third place finish in CIF water polo in 1968 and a CIF team finals appearance in boys swimming in 1970.
Urbanchek left Anaheim High School in 1978 to become the head coach at Long Beach State, where he coached the 49ers swim program for five years. In 1981, he was named Pacific Coast Athletic Association Coach of the Year. He also coached on the international level for the first time, guiding the United States to a second place finish behind his native Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
at the 1979 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup
1979 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup
The 1979 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup was the first edition of the event, organised by the world's governing body in aquatics, the International Swimming Federation . The event took place in Rijeka and in the Tašmajdan Swimming Pool in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.Participating teams were the eight best...
.
University of Michigan Head Coach (1982-2004)
Urbanchek was responsible for the renaissance of the Michigan Men's swimming program upon entering taking over the position in 1982. Within four years he won the Big Ten Championship and then continued to win another 9 in a row establishing a Decade of Dominance for the program (1986-1996), during which time he won the NCAA Championship as well. In total, he won a total 13 Big Ten Championships. Upon his retirement as Men's team head coach in 2004, he was replaced by Bob BowmanBob Bowman (coach)
Bob Bowman is an American swimming coach, who is the coach of Michael Phelps. From 2005-2008, he was the head coach for the University of Michigan men's swimming & diving team, replacing Jon Urbanchek; as well as the head coach for the club team based at the school: Club Wolverine. He was the...
.
Post Michigan (2004- )
After retiring as Men's Head Coach at the University, Urbanchek for several years continued to coach with the club team affiliated with the school (Club Wolverine) and to assist the University's men's team as a Head of Aquatics.Urbanchek currently resides in Southern California where he continues to coach several world class swimmers in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.
Urbanchek was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
(ISHOF) in 2008.
Urbanchek was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2009