BOSTON - Bill Smyth, who has led Boston University's men's and women's swimming & diving programs since 2005, has announced his retirement from coaching.
 
Under Smyth, BU student-athletes won 127 individual conference titles and every men's and women's school record was broken at least once throughout his 18-season tenure.

Smyth guided the Terriers to tremendous success in dual meets, notching a .678 dual win percentage across both teams. Both squads posted a winning record in dual meets in all but two seasons each during his time at BU.
 
"After 18 years of being fortunate enough to be the head swimming & diving coach at Boston University, I have decided that it is time to step down so that I can start the next stage of my professional life," said Smyth. "I want to thank former athletic director Mike Lynch and former associate athletic director Nancy Lyons for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime here at BU when they hired me in 2005.  I also want to thank our current athletic director, Drew Marrochello, and supervisor, Aaron Aaker, for providing the guidance and resources to coach a successful team in and out of the water.  
 
"I wouldn't be where I am today without my coaching colleague, mentor and friend - Mark Bernardino - who inspired and shaped me as a swimmer, coach and person. I also want to thank my assistant coaches, Hannah Saiz, Brad Snodgrass, Jen Strasburger and Agnes Miller, who helped make the program, both in its character and success." 

Smyth coached six conference swimmers of the year and 11 divers of the year. The Terriers have also excelled in the classroom during his tenure, as six student-athletes have been recognized as the conference scholar-athlete of the year while the teams have consistently been among the department's top grade-point averages.
 
Eight of his swimmers received the prestigious Scarlet Key recognition from BU, and within the department, six men received major honors - three John Simpson Awards (leadership & enthusiasm), two E. Ray Speare Awards (top scholar-athlete), one Mickey Cochrane Award (top athlete) – and the Paul Lewis Student-Athlete Service Award and Gretchen Schuyler Award (top scholar-athlete) were won by his female student-athletes five times each.
 
While contending in the America East, Smyth guided the Terriers to four conference championships (three women's, one men's) and added men's and women's ECAC titles in 2013. Smyth and his assistants won the America East Coaching Staff of the Year distinction four times on the men's side and in 2008 they swept the awards by claiming it on the women's side.
 
"Bill proudly led our swimming & diving programs and his distinguished career is highlighted by the immense success his student-athletes achieved both in the pool and in the BU community," said director of athletics Drew Marrochello. "He has always had the respect of his peers and he was in the coaching profession for all the right reasons.
 
"Countless Terriers have benefitted from Bill's coaching and he truly dedicated his time to ensuring that they developed holistically during their careers at BU. I'm proud and honored to have worked with Bill over the past 18 years."
 
Smyth made a quick impact in his first season with the Terriers in 2005-06 as 95 percent of the men's team swam at least one lifetime best and over 77 percent of the women's team did as well while the Terriers boasted three individual conference champions.
 
In the 2008-09 season, Smyth brought the program to a new level as the women's squad won its first America East Championship in 14 years and two men qualified for the NCAA Championships as Matt Rickett became first BU male swimmer to qualify in 27 years. In 2012, Smyth led the Terriers to a sweep of the conference championship for the first time since 1994.
 
The Terriers joined the Patriot League in 2013 and in that first year, Stephanie Nasson became BU's first female swimmer to reach the NCAAs since 2000.
 
"I consider myself fortunate and blessed to have made relationships with the team and alumni from across the decades," added Smyth. "I know that the team is in great hands and that the athletic department will find the right person to lead the program forward. Thank you to everybody who made a positive impact on the team. Go Terriers!"
 
Smyth was credited with the outstanding development of UVA's men's and women's swimming programs as the Cavaliers' assistant coach from 1997-05 before taking over the helm at BU. A five-time All-America swimmer for the Cavaliers, Smyth 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, and was also a finalist at USA National meets on several occasions. Smyth also boasts 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 served as an assistant coach for some of the top club teams in the nation before coming to BU, spending time with the Jersey Wahoos and the Phoenix Swim Club, each of which sent swimmers to the 1996 Summer Olympics.