Former UM swim team coach Bill Diaz marks 89th birthday

Former UM swim team coach Bill Diaz marks 89th birthday
Former UM swim team coach Bill Diaz marks 89th birthday
Retired University of Miami swim coach Bill Diaz celebrates his 89th birthday with a cake and friends.

Legendary retired University of Miami swim team coach Bill Diaz celebrated his 89th birthday in July with a pizza party at South Miami’s Big Cheese Restaurant surrounded by family, friends and members of the teams he coached over a 50-year career.

Diaz, who coached several All America swimmers at the UM — including Steve Lichtner, Robert Strauss, Bill Morrison, John Spire, Robert Vandermere and Todd Ford — also coached U.S. Olympic and Pan American Games athletes. He retired in 1986 after serving 15 years as head coach of the UM team. He was hired by former athletic director and head football coach Charlie Tate.

He began his career in 1953 after being named All Dade County Coach of the Year five times and winning the Men’s and Women’s State Swimming Championship as a coach at Miami Jackson High School. He subsequently moved to Miami Springs High School, and ultimately to the UM.

Former UM swim team members from around the country came to the Big Cheese to honor their old coach and wish him a happy birthday.

They included Jorge and Albert Otero, Gail Dugan Gregg, Frank Quesada, former Captain Doug “Duke” Hartman, legendary Iron Arrow members Carol and Joe Pineda, and Hall of Famer Norm Parsons.

Even representatives from the UM Sports Hall of Fame attended the gala event, along with the current swim team coach Andy Kershaw.

Coach Diaz, moved by the adoration and support from so many of the athletes he coached over the years, acknowledged that he had an outstanding career in athletics and that he was honored to see so many old friends and associates.

“I want to thank Coach Diaz,” Kershaw said. “It was such an honor to share in the celebration. I hope to uphold Coach Diaz’s legacy for many years to come. I have only known him a short time and can already tell that he is a tremendous person and UM Hall of Fame Coach.”


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