Northwestern University Athletics
Moment No. 10: Bob Groseth Announces Retirement
7/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
July 28, 2009
Full Groseth Retirement Announcement
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The No. 10 entry on our countdown of the top moments from 2008-09 at Northwestern is more a celebration of a career than it is of a singular accomplishment or feat. On June 8, 2009, longtime NU men's swimming coach Bob Groseth announced his upcoming retirement after a 20-year tenure in which he woke the Wildcats' program from decades of dormancy and led it to national prominence.
Groseth began his coaching duties at Northwestern in 1989, taking over a team that finished last in the Big Ten in each of the 11 seasons prior to his arrival. During his tenure Groseth built the Wildcats into a contender, finishing in the upper half of the conference in seven-consecutive years from 2001-07, including a third-place effort in 2004. Northwestern also had a five-year stretch from 2004-08 in which it was a top-12 team in the nation in each season, peaking with a modern era-best sixth-place finish in 2007.
Assistant coach Jarod Schroeder was named as the replacement for Groseth, who is becoming the interim Executive Director of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) on Sept. 1 of this year. Groseth began his involvement with the CSCAA several years ago, helping save collegiate swimming programs that were threatened with being dropped before later becoming more involved with the administration of the organization. He has served as the President Elect for the past two years.
"As a coach, my job was to push people outside of their `comfort zone.' As I approached my 20th year at Northwestern, I started to feel the need to get outside of my comfort zone," Groseth said. "My years here have been great and the school and administration have treated me well. I leave with even more respect for the institution than I had when I started 20 years ago. I have seen a transformation of the Athletic Department and Northwestern Men's Swimming from a perennial doormat to a perennial contender. I take pride in being part of that process and thank the many people who have helped make it happen."
For the complete release on Groseth's announcement including his litany of accomplishments in two decades on the deck at the Norris Aquatics Center and the reaction of his swimmers and colleagues, click here or on the link at the top of this page.
