Longtime W&J Coach/AD Passes Away

A pioneer in the Washington & Jefferson College athletics department, Paul Reardon, passed away on Wednesday, July 30, in Washington, Pa. 

Mr. Reardon first became involved with Washington & Jefferson College when Pete Henry hired him to serve as the head coach for swimming and track and field and as an assistant coach for football.  Mr. Reardon’s swimming teams had tremendous success as the Presidents posted a record of 114-92-1 from 1947-1969. 

Mr. Reardon made his biggest impact at the college after being hired as the athletic director in 1954.  During his tenure, W&J added new tennis court surfaces and renovated the former College Field and the Henry Memorial Center.  Fields for baseball, field hockey, softball and soccer were also added to the campus. 

“I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of a W&J legend,” said W&J Director of Athletics Bill Dukett.  “Paul was the leader of the athletic department when the Henry Memorial Center was designed and built.  He took great pride in the pool area due to the fact he was the swimming coach for many years.” 

Mr. Reardon was also instrumental in the implementation of women’s sports at Washington & Jefferson College.  During his tenure as athletic director, the Presidents began NCAA Division III women’s varsity competition in basketball, volleyball, soccer, swimming and diving, field hockey and tennis. 

“Paul helped to make the women’s sports transition an easy one for all of us,” said former women’s basketball and volleyball head coach Vicki Staton.  “I was lucky to be the first full-time women’s coach that he hired and he always tried to do the best for our student-athletes.  Paul Reardon loved W&J College.  He was a warm and caring person and a wonderful colleague.” 

“It is an extremely sad day for W&J College athletics, because we lost a giant piece of our history,” added Head Swimming and Diving Coach Mike Orstein.  “Coach Reardon was a great ambassador of the school and our department.  He was a tremendous educator and an extremely humble man.” 

In his 33 years as athletic director, Mr. Reardon also found time to coach swimming (22 yrs.), track (12 yrs.), football (eight yrs.) and the first cross country team in school history.  He was honored with the “Master Coach Award” by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America in 1964, the W&J Alumni Association Distinguished Award in 1986 and an honorary doctorate from the College in 1987.

In 1993, Reardon was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and also entered the W&J Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Paul Reardon award is handed out annually in his honor to a junior student-athlete who exemplifies outstanding success in the classroom and on the playing fields at W&J.  The college also dedicated the new scoreboard and timing system for the Henry Memorial Natatorium in Mr. Reardon’s name in 2006.