 |
|
|
Bill Smyth begins his second season as head coach of Boston University swimming and diving and looks to build on the impressive gains made by the program in his rookie year. Over 95% of the men's team swam at least one lifetime best and over 77% of the women's team did as well, while the Terriers boasted three individual America East champions. Based on the improvements made last season, an excellent swimming pedigree and nine years of coaching experience under his belt, all signs point to Smyth developing BU into a powerhouse program in the conference for years to come. In 2005-06, Smyth led the BU women to a third-place finish in the America East Championships, which the Terriers hosted in their beautiful new aquatic center. The showing was the best for the BU women since 2000, and Lidija Breznikar (400 IM) and Alex Crerar (3M dive) won individual titles. The Terrier men finished fourth - their best showing in four years - and were paced by senior Mike Kelly, who won the Coaches' Award for highest career point total, and freshman Brian Lawler, who captured the 3M dive individual title. All told, 18 women scored at the conference meet (seven more than the previous year) and 19 men scored (five more than 2005). Breznikar went on to break three school records and one conference mark, while Christina Ruggiero swam the second-fastest 1000 Free time in school history. Smyth, who is credited with the outstanding development of the University of Virginia men's and women's swimming programs as the Cavaliers' head assistant coach from 1997-2005, was named head coach of Boston University's men's and women's swimming teams on May 24, 2005. A five-time All-American swimmer for the Cavaliers during the early nineties, Smith coached Virginia's distance and individual medley swimmers and was heavily involved in the recruiting phase of the program. During the 2004-05 season, the Virginia men's team won its seventh straight Atlantic Coast Conference title and finished 13th overall at the NCAAs. Two of the swimmers Smyth coached earned First Team All-American honors: Pat Mellors, who took fifth in the 400 individual medley and John Millen, who placed sixth in the 1650 freestyle. In addition, the women's team was second at the ACC meet after winning the team title the previous two years. At the 2004 NCAAs, Smyth coached two men and two women to top-10 finishes in the 1650 freestyle. A 1994 University of Virginia graduate with a degree in psychology, Smyth specialized in the 400 individual medley. In addition to his five All-American recognitions, he won six ACC individual titles, including four in the 400 IM. Smyth set the school and ACC records in the 400 IM in 1994 with a time of 3:47.98, which stood until the 2002 ACC Championships. Smyth was selected to the ACC 50th Anniversary Men's Swimming and Diving Team in August of 2002. He was a finalist at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 IM, placing fifth. Smyth was also a finalist at USA National meets several times. Smyth also has international coaching experience, as he served as an assistant coach for the Macedonian Olympic team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. A native of Norristown, Pa., Smyth has served as an assistant coach for some of the top club teams in the nation since his graduation from Virginia. He spent time with the Jersey Wahoos and the Phoenix Swim Club, both of which sent swimmers to the 1996 Summer Olympics. |
||||||||||||||||
