University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas swimming head coach Bill Humby has retired from his head coaching position effective May 15th.

“It is hard to step away, but I know the time is right and the team is strong and they will pull together,” expressed Humby. “As I would tell any swimmer who was considering their future in the sport, you gotta go with your gut feeling and trust yourself to make a good decision. After considering everything, I feel very good about my decision.”

Humby joined the U of A swim program in the 2006-07 season and served as head coach for eight seasons. A veteran of pool decks for 34 years, the Level III NCCP certified coach guided the Bears and Pandas to some of the program’s most impressive accomplishments, including eight team medals for the Golden Bears at the Canada West level, including conference silver in 2012, and a CIS fourth place in 2012, which was the U of A’s highest national championship performance since 2002. He also coached the Pandas program to a half-dozen team podium finishes at the Canada West level, and as high as the sixth best program in CIS.

Also on his stopwatch, a number of Golden Bears and Pandas student-athletes swam internationally, and broke University of Alberta swimming records, and in the latter years the teams made regular appearances in the CIS Top 10 rankings as top three teams in the country.

“Bill Humby was a great asset to the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, and the Golden Bears and Pandas swim program,” stated Director of Athletics Ian Reade. “Not only is he is a great coach and teacher, but he's also a team builder with a unique ability to bring people together. He was also one of the most progressive thinkers when it came to engaging researchers and graduate students in the swim program. Bill will continue to be a great friend of many in the Faculty and we all wish him well.”

A graduate of the University of South Carolina, and a former captain of the Gamecocks swim team, Humby began his swimming club coaching career in Thunder Bay, Ontario, but it took him to stops in Ottawa, Guelph and Calgary before earning his first CIS head coaching job at the U of A.  He’s also coached with Swimming Canada, and served as a coach for Canada at the 2009 World Summer University Games.

“From my initial meetings in 2006 with the team captains,” noted Humby, “it was obvious that there was a special comradery amongst the teammates here, a spirit that is just as strong or even stronger today. That made my job so much easier. The athletes definitely understood that it was a privilege to represent the school and not a right. And it was fun, from there, getting them to commit to a high performance philosophy wasn't that big of a step. I feel very proud of what the team has accomplished over my tenure, gradually moving up the ranks and competing with the biggest and best programs in the CIS.”

“The University of Alberta has been a great place to work,” he added. “With 34 years under my belt I have been in a number of different situations and this one was by far the most professional and supportive environment a coach could work in.”

Colleen Marchese, who served as General Manager and coach last season, will now take over as the program’s head varsity coach. In 2014-15, with Marchese at the helm, the Golden Bears earned their first CIS national championship gold medal in a race since 1997 when the 4 x 100m medley relay team swam to a first place showing. That performance, coupled with five other medal performances lifted the Bears to a fourth place finish at the national meet. The Bears also earned the team silver medal at the Canada West level last season, while the Pandas collected bronze.

Matt Gutsch • Communications • (780) 492-7214;