Head swimming and diving coach Jim Bain is retiring after coaching the Pioneers for 32 years.
Coach Bain has led the Pioneer swimmers and divers to 19 national championship appearances, 20 first-place league championships, 125 All-American honors, and 29 individual national champions. He swam at DU in 1963 and 1964 when the team competed in NCAA division I and Bain competed in the NCAA championships in 1964. In 1972, Coach Bain was hired to coach for his former school and will retire as the most successful swimming and diving coach ever at DU.
On Friday night, the school honored Coach Bain with a retirement dinner, some speeches from co-workers and alumni, and a video presentation at the Cable Centre. The speakers included Dr. M. Diane Murphy, director of athletics and recreation, who spoke about Jim’s long and distinguished career hinting to newly hired head coach Jim Henry that he has some very big shoes to fill.
Brad Busse, a four-time all-American under Bain, told some stories about Coach Bain from the early 80’s and mentioned that he is going to try his hardest to swim fast in the alumni meet which was held the following morning.
Janet Kiyota, another alumni, spoke to many former swimmers as she recounted tales from the past and said how glad she was to be a part of such a great team.
George Gwozdecky, head hockey coach for DU, spoke of how rare an event it is for a coach to retire and what an accomplishment it is for Coach Bain.
Finally, Coach Bain ascended the short staircase of the auditorium at the Cable Centre and delivered some humorous and touching remarks. Much of the speech was thank you’s to all the people who have helped him along the way. He said the list could go on forever, but still mentioned many people before recounting many memories and personal accomplishments that really stuck out in his mind as the best.
Beyond all of the accomplishments, Coach Bain’s greatest achievements lie within each of his swimmers. Seeing them together and what they have aspired to become brought tears to Coach Bain’s eyes.
