Loyola Marymount Names First Head Coach

Loyola Marymount University has hired Bonnie Adair as the head coach of the women's swimming program, Director of Athletics Dr. William Husak announced. Adair becomes the first full-time women's swim coach for the program.

"We are excited to have Bonnie joining our program," said Husak. "She will bring a new level of success to this program as we continue our goal of 'Building Champions' here at LMU."

Adair joined the LMU program in 2002-03 and has been involved with the Lions' swim team the last two years while remaining involved with swimming for more than 35 years. Born in El Segundo, Calif., she started swimming and diving at age five. During her 13-year swimming career, she set 35 National Age Group records including a 50m freestyle record that stood for 29 years.

Competing in 12 National Championships (her first at age 13) and two Olympic Trials, Adair became a National finalist in the 100 free and 100 fly and a member of a 400-meter Medley Relay that established four American records.

She attended UCLA as an undergraduate and then Loyola Law School. During law school, Adair was the assistant coach of the UCLA women's swim team and also coached the Team Santa Monica age group team.

In 1979, Bonnie, along with Clay Evans, created the Santa Monica Masters Swim Team, which later became SCAQ - now the largest Masters program in the United States. From 1996-1999 Bonnie was the head coach of the Men's and Women's swimming teams at Santa Monica College where she earned the Western State Conference Woman's Coach of the Year award in 1997. Adair was also honored as the United States Masters Coach of the Year.