05/10/2024

John Urbanchek, legendary swim coach, has died at the age of 87

Former Long Beach State swim team coach and USA Swimming legend John Urbanchek has passed away at the age of 87.

In 2004, Urbanchek was inducted into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame. After spending four seasons as head swimming and diving coach from 1979-1982, Urbanchek then created a men's swimming dynasty at Michigan, where he coached for 22 years and won the 1995 NCAA Championship as well as 13 Big Ten Conference championships.

Urbanchek was known internationally as well. He made his first Olympic appearance as a coach in 1988 and went on to coach in five consecutive Olympics and two more as a special assistant to Team USA. He coached 34 Olympic swimmers who won seven gold, six silver and four bronze medals.

He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2008.

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John Urbanchek, legendary swim coach, has died at the age of 87

Recently passed away

Francis R. Strawbridge III, chairman of Strawbridge & Clothier and a longtime community leader, died in his 86th year of life

Irwin Fishbein, a World War II Army interpreter who helped Holocaust survivors, has died at the age of 101

Judy Devlin Hashman, a champion badminton player who grew up in Baltimore, has died at the age of 88

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