UCLA swimming and diving head coach Cyndi Gallagher has announced her retirement, bringing an end to a distinguished 31-year tenure at the helm of the program and a 38-year run at UCLA as a head coach, assistant coach and student-athlete.
Gallagher ends her coaching career with a 202-107-2 overall record in dual meets, by far the winningest coach in program history. Gallagher led the Bruins to Pac-12 titles in 2001 and 2003 and has steered UCLA to top-10 finishes at the NCAAs nine times.
“Being the head coach at UCLA was my first and only full-time position, and I can honestly say I have had the greatest job in the world,” Gallagher said. “I always wondered why anyone would ever leave UCLA — it has everything from academic and athletic excellence to a great locale by the beach and a true Bruin family. Dreams come true at UCLA.”
Under Gallagher’s direction, UCLA became one of the premier women’s swimming and diving programs in the country. The Bruins have finished inside the top-15 nationally in 15 of her seasons. Gallagher has twice been named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year, first in 1990 when the Bruins finished fifth at NCAAs and then again in 2003 after UCLA secured its second league championship in three years.
Her tenure at UCLA produced 11 Olympians, 21 Pac-10/12 Champions, and 91 All-Americans.
Read the story on the UCLA Athletics website.