The average tenure of Division I head coaches just got a little shorter this week. Miami (OH)'s Dave Jennings and Kentucky's Gary Conelly announced their resignations. The pair have a combined 56 years of coaching experience at their respective institions. Jennings, Miami's all-time winningest single-sport coach, will step down next month whie Conelly's annoucement came on Wednesday.
“I’ve been thinking about retirement for a little while,” said Jennings. “Now, it’s time to move on and do some other things and spend more time with my family. I feel like I’m leaving the team in a good shape. The new coach will have a really good nucleus to work with. I’m going to miss working with the student-athletes, but there comes a time when you have to look at yourself personally. I’m really proud that I’ve been able to help people in the pool and contribute a bit to their success outside of the pool, out in the real world. It’s been a real honor to be associated with the girls in the program. Miami has been my life. I’m not going anywhere; I’m going to stay right here and be a loyal supporter.
“Retirement is one of those things you think you’re never going to reach and then it’s here,” said Conelly. “I’ve been really fortunate to be at Kentucky and it’s been a pleasure to work with everyone – athletes, coaches and administrators.”
Conelly began his coaching career at Kentucky as the head women’s coach for the 1991-92 season after spending three seasons as a graduate assistant with the Wildcats. A year later, Conelly added the men’s team to his responsibilities and became Kentucky’s head swimming coach. Over his 22 years, he’s guided the teams to more than 200 victories.
“When I came to UK in 1988 I was a graduate assistant in athletics and in the English department,” Conelly said. “I thought I was going to move into teaching, but in one of those twists and turns of life, it turned into coaching. That has worked out well in so many different levels, for me, family, my children. Lexington is a great town and a great place to raise children. It couldn’t have worked out any better.”
Jennings' career was marked by his ability to win championships. Five classes—1986, 1987, 1988, 1999 and 2005—won every MAC title in which they competed. Jennings achieved a conference title "four-peat" three times. The winner of 16 Mid-American Conference titles, Jennings heads out on top with a 2012-13 squad had a 10-1 dual meet record and captured the MAC title, despite not winning a single individual nor relay title. It marked the first time that a MAC team champion had achieved that feat.
“I want to thank Miami University, particularly Dick Shrider who hired me back in 1982,” Jennings continued. “There have been a lot of fine people who’ve helped me and Miami’s swimming program through the years.”
"Since being named head coach in 1991, Gary has helped hundreds of student-athletes realize their dreams in and out of the pool,” said UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart. “We appreciate everything he has done during his 25-year UK career and wish the best for Gary and his wife Kathy as they move into retirement."
Both coaches began their careers as teachers. Conelly had a great mentor having swum under Indiana Head Coach Doc Counsilman. Jennings began his career as a teacher and head boys swimming coach at Upper Arlington High School.
“Helping the athletes develop is gratifying for a coach,” Conelly said. “My first All-American, Kellie Moran, was my first athlete to get a bid to the NCAAs and score points at the championship meet. She worked her way through injuries to do that and that is a special memory. Those things continued over the years all the way through this season, when Kelcy Perry had a similar situation (of overcoming obstacles), and had three good years on the team.”
Undoubtedly, the most poignant moment of Conelly’s time at UK came when Mike Lyden, long-time friend and Wildcat diving coach, passed away after an extended battle with cancer.
“I’ll always remember when Mike was dealing with his cancer and our divers finished 1-2-3 at the SEC Championships and Taryn Ignacio went on to win the NCAA (championship),” Conelly recalled. “That was an incredibly emotional time for Mike and our team.”
Both programs have capable assistants potentially waiting in the wings. Miami's Mark Davis has compiled an impressive resume of his own - both as Jennings' assistant for the past six seasons and as the head coach of both Centerville High School and the WTRC Sharks Swim Team. Kentucky has a number to choose from including Associate Head Coach Lars Jorgensen and assitant Derek Perkins. Jorgensen was tremendously successful at Toledo while Perkins, a past CollegeSwimming.com Assistant Coach-of-the-Year, kept a lame-duck Clemson program afloat in its final days.
