Urbanchek to be Inducted into International Hall of Fame
6/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Urbanchek is the 18th individual affiliated with U-M to be inducted into the ISHOF; he joins former U-M head coaches Dick Kimball (men's and women's diving, 1960-2002), Matt Mann (men's swimming, 1925-54) and Gus Stager (men's swimming, 1954-79, '81-82), and his former protg Tom Dolan (1993-95).
At the Olympic level, 26 of Urbanchek's swimmers have represented their native countries. Ten of them have combined for 17 medals (seven gold, six silver and four bronze), including Dolan's pair of gold medals in the 400-meter individual medley (1996, 2000) and Gustavo Borges' four medals for Brazil (two silver, two bronze in 1992, '96 and 2000). Most recently, U-M alumni Peter Vanderkaay (2003-06) and Dan Ketchum (2001-04) captured gold on the 800-meter freestyle relay in 2004.
U-M's head coach from 1982-2004, Urbanchek concluded his career with an overall record of 163-34 and a 100-4 mark in the Big Ten Conference. He led his teams to 13 Big Ten titles in 22 years, including 10 straight during the "Decade of Dominance" from 1986-95. In fact, his teams never finished lower than third at the conference championships.
Urbanchek's 1995 team won the NCAA national championship, capturing seven individual event titles in the process: the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyles (Gustavo Borges); the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley (Tom Dolan); and the 800-yard freestyle relay (John Piersma, Chris Rumley, Owen vonRichter, Dolan).
In 1995, Urbanchek was named the NCAA Coach of the Year and American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year. He also earned Big Ten Swimming Coach of the Year honors nine times (1987, '90, '91/co, '93, '94, '95, 2000, '03/co, '04), more than any other men's swimming coach in the history of the league. Internationally, Urbanchek was head coach of the 1994 and '98 U.S. World Championships teams and served as an assistant coach on the 2004, '00, '96, '92 and '88 Olympic teams.
Also being inducted into the ISHOF on July 6 are: two-time Olympic water polo champion and two-time World champion Perica Bukic (Croatia); Olympic breaststroke champion and three-time world record-holder Fred DeBurghgraeve (Belgium); Olympic gold medalist and three-time individual medley world champion Andras Hargitay (Hungary); Olympic champion and three-time breaststroke world record-holder Anita Nall (USA); synchronized swimming Olympic and World Championships gold medalist Jill Savery (USA); 25K World Championship gold medalist and the No. 1-ranked marathon swimmer Shelley Taylor Smith (Australia); Olympic water polo gold medalist Debbie Watson (Australia), ISHOF's first female water polo player; and marathon swimmer Herman Willemse (Holland).
In February 2009, Urbanchek will also be inducted into the State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. He is currently coaching the elite level swimmers with Bob Bowman for Club Wolverine, U-M's club team, and will be serving as a special assistant to the U.S. national team head coach, Mark Schubert, in Beijing.
Michigan's ISHOF Members
Urbanchek's Olympians
- Alejandro Alvizuri (Peru) - 1984, '88, '92
- Mike Barrowman (USA) - 1988, '92 gold (200m breaststroke)
- Steve Bigelow (USA) - 1988
- Gustavo Borges (Brazil) - 1992 silver medal (100m free), 1996 bronze (100m free) and silver (200m free), 2000 bronze (400m free relay), 2004
- Derya Buyukuncu (Turkey) - 1992, '96, 2000
- Fernando Canales (Puerto Rico) - 1984
- Jorge Carral (Mexico) - 2000
- Benoit Clement (Canada) - 1984
- Tom Dolan (USA) - 1996 gold (400m IM), 2000 gold (400m IM) and silver (200m IM)
- Andrew Hurd (Canada) - 2000, '04
- Dan Ketchum (USA) - 2004 gold (800m free relay)
- Brent Lang (USA) - 1988 gold (400m free relay)
- Tom Malchow (USA) - 1996 silver (200m fly), 2000 gold (200m fly), 2004
- Mike McWha (Canada) - 2000
- Eric Namesnik (USA) - 1992 silver (400m IM), 1996 silver (400m IM)
- Jan Erick Olson (Norway) - 1988
- Ryan Papa (The Philippines) - 1992, '96
- John Piersma (USA) - 1996
- Andy Potts (USA Triathlon) - 2004
- Royce Sharp (USA) - 1992
- Francisco Suriano Siu (El Salvador) - 1996, 2000
- Chris Thompson (USA) - 2000 bronze (1500m free)
- Peter Vanderkaay (USA) - 2004 gold (800m free relay)
- Owen von Richter (Canada) - 2000
- Marcel Wouda (The Netherlands) - 1992, '96, 2000 bronze (800m free relay)
- Eric Wunderlich (USA) - 1996
Urbanchek's NCAA Champions
- Mike Barrowman - 200-yard breaststroke (1989, '90, '91)
- Gustavo Borges, 50-yard free (1995), 100-yard free (1992, '93, '94, '95), 200-yard free (1992, '94, '95)
- Tom Dolan - 500-yard free (1995, '96), 1650-yard free (1995, '96), 400-yard IM (1995, '96)
- Brent Lang - 50-yard free (1989, '90), 100-yard free (1988, '90)
- John Piersma - 200-yard free (1997), 500-yard free (1997)
- Tim Siciliano - 400-yard IM (1999, 2001), 400-meter IM (2000)
- Chris Thompson - 1650 free (2001)
- Peter Vanderkaay - 400-meter free (2004), 1500-meter free (2004)
- Marcel Wouda - 500-yard free (1993), 1650-free (1993)
- Eric Wunderlich - 200-yard breaststroke (1993)
- Five consecutive 800-yard freestyle relay teams (1993-97) in addition to the 2004 800-meter free relay team
Contact: Barbara Cossman (734) 763-4423
