Florida Coach Harlan, 83 Passes Away

William H. Harlan, the retired University of Florida swimming coach who led the Gators to eight conference titles, died Tuesday, school officials said. He was 83.

Harlan, a six-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year and member of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, led the Florida swimming program from 1963-1976. In that span, Harlan’s teams captured eight-SEC titles and placed in eight NCAA meets.

Despite being a native of Asheville, North Carolina, Harlan was a true Gainesville product as he graduated from Gainesville High School as well as the University of Florida for both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Harlan was a lifelong Gator whose family lived on University Avenue across from the University. At the age of five, Harlan was the mascot of the 1927 UF baseball team and later the 1928 UF football team. In 1941, Harlan entered the University and competed in intramural boxing in the welterweight division in which he won the title. With World War II eminent, he left school and joined the Aviation Cadet Program on December 3, 1941 and stayed in the service as a tailgunner on B-29 bombers though the war flying on what were called "Empire Strikes" over Japan. During his stint in the service, Harlan continued boxing and garnered an impressive record.

Upon leaving the service, he re-enrolled at UF in January of 1946 and resumed his amateur boxing career, advancing to the semifinals of the intramural welterweight class before suffering the only loss of a 47-1-1 career. He had hoped to fight for the UF boxing team, but the school disbanded the program soon after and he turned his attention to diving. He made the team in 1947 and earned letters in '47 and 1948. He captained the 1948 team for coach Frank Genovar.

"Being named captain of the ’48 swim team is probably my dearest memory as an athlete," Harlan once said. "It has meant a lot to me over the years. Also, winning the welterweight title in intramurals meant a lot because it taught me how to be a boxer."

Harlan received his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1948 and earned his master’s degree in education from UF in 1949. He worked at UF as a graduate assistant swim coach during his post-graduate days and was an assistant coach for swimming and diving coach Buddy Crone from 1959 to 1963. From 1963 to 1976, Harlan was the head swimming and diving coach at UF. His teams won eight-SEC titles and placed in eight NCAA meets. Overall, 13 of the 17 teams he was associated with as a coach or assistant won SEC titles.

In 1968, Harlan was selected an honorary Florida Blue Key Member. After his coaching career, Harlan continued to teach in the P.E. Department at UF, retiring as a professor emeritus in 1987. He worked with football press box operations at Gator home games for over 50 years and, for a number of years, served as legal consultant for cases involving sports-related accidents. He remained active in Gator Boosters, the UF Letterman’s Association and Grand Old Gators until his death.

Funeral arrangements are not available at this time. Surviving Harlan is his wife, Madge, and his two sons John and Bill Jr.