Cincinnati Marlins Head Coach and CEO Announces Resignation

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Cincinnati Marlins head coach and CEO Chris Wolford announced his resignation to become the Sports Performance Director for South Carolina Swimming.

Swimming World obtained a copy of the announcement sent out to its friends and members by the team’s president.

After 16 years as the Cincinnati Marlins Head Coach, Chris Wolford has announced his intention to step down effective April 1.  Please join the Board of Directors and Coaches in wishing Coach Wolford and his family all the best in his next challenge as Sports Performance Director for South Carolina Swimming.

During his tenure with the Marlins, Coach Wolford made an impact on a significant number of swimmers, families and coaches.  His steady hand has taken the Marlins from 175 swimmers and 6 coaches to today’s 500+ swimmers, 25 coaches and 4 training sites. 

While Wolford was Head Coach, Marlins swimmers qualified for the Pan American Games, World University Games, Olympic Trials and numerous National Junior Teams.  Marlins’ swimmers captured over 16 Junior National Titles, Junior National Meet Records, as well as 13 National Age-Group Records.   Additionally, the Marlins were the 2006 Men’s Junior National Team Champions and have won 14 Junior Olympic team titles setting over 100 LSC records.

As the Marlins forge ahead into championship season, Coach Wolford and the Marlins coaching staff will remain focused on our swimmers, guiding them to achieve individual and team goals.  The families of the Marlins should also know that we will be immediate and diligent in our search for the next Marlin Head Coach to carry out the Cincinnati Marlins rich tradition of excellence in swimming.
Sincerely,
Bob Prangley
Cincinnati Marlins Board President

Wolford was longest serving Head Coach in Marlins’ history.  The team grew to over 500 swimmers with satellites in six locations outside of its home base at the Keating Natatorium on the Xavier High School campus.

Wilford penned the following letter to his staff:

Coaches & Staff,

I am writing to let you know that this will be my last season coaching with the Cincinnati Marlins.  I have resigned my position effective March 31, 2017.  It has been an honor and a great source of professional pride to have led the Marlins for over 16 years.  It has also been my great honor to have been associated with such a great group of coaches.  The caring, dedication, and knowledge of the people I get to work with every day is hard to imagine by anyone outside of the Marlins.

All good things come to an end.  I am extremely proud of the organization I have built here and I am extremely grateful for all you have done to make my visions reality.  That being said, after 16 years I have doubled the longest tenure of any previous Marlins’ coach.  Just as there are reasons I have made it longer than anyone else, there are costs that take a toll on me and my family.   I feel it is time for me to move on to new challenges and opportunities.  I also feel it is time for a new face of the Marlins with fresh ideas and energy to take the team from where we are to new heights as a team and organization. 

I truly appreciate all you have done for me and the Marlins.  I have learned so much from each of you. Whether it was a specific drill or a passing comment about working with parents, by observing the work you do I have become a better coach and CEO.

I will be leaving the Marlins to become the new Sports Performance Director for South Carolina Swimming.  In this role I will provide guidance and direction to coaches, parents, boards of directors & athletes throughout the state.  I hope to expand the sport in South Carolina as I have with the Marlins.  I continue to wish the best for the Marlins and all of you as you have all meant so much to me. 

Sincerely,
Chris Wolford
Head Coach
Cincinnati Marlins

About the Marlins

The Cincinnati Marlins were founded in 1961. 89 girls were selected for the team the first year, with 77 boys joining the following year. Keating Natatorium was built in 1969. Keating is a 50-meter indoor facility with seating for approximately 1000.   It contains a full-service concession area, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a weight room, hospitality room, coach’s offices, and a meet room. The pool can be converted to two 25-yard competition pools through the use of a bulkhead. The Marlins and Keating Natatorium host approximately 20 swimming competitions a year. The parents and volunteers have years of experience and are known for hosting quality competitions.

The Marlins have placed 18 swimmers on the U.S. Olympic Team since 1968. Team members have broken numerous National and World Records. In 1980 the team captured the United States National Championship. That year, six Marlins’ swimmers were named to the U.S. Olympic team, more than from any other team. Sadly, those six swimmers were unable to compete in the Moscow Olympics because of our nation’s boycott of the games.

The Marlins have also developed some of America’s greatest coaches. Six former Marlins coaches have been named to Olympic Coaching Staffs. Since 1971, the Marlins have won over 30 Summer & Winter State Championship. The team has been named Junior National Team Champions in 1983, 84, 97, 98, 99, and 2000. In 2005, the Men’s team placed first, the combined team second. Swimming World Magazine named the Cincinnati Marlins 1999’s Best Age-Group Team in America. In 2006 and 2007, the Marlins were designated as a Gold Medal Club by USA Swimming (our governing body). This distinction is given to only the top 16 teams in the nation based not only on swimming performance, but the organization’s structure, professionalism, and contribution to the sport of swimming.

Marlin Swimming Success By The Numbers     

  • 18 Olympic Swimmers
  • 1980 National Team Champions
  • 23 Olympic Medals
  • 15 World Records
  • 19 American Records
  • 60 National Champions
  • 6 American Swimmers of the Year

Notable alumni

The Marlins have been home to many accomplished swimmers, including 25 Olympic qualifiers. Together, they have won 23 Olympic medals.

  • Lisa Buese – silver medalist at the 1979 Pan American Games
  • Deena Deardurff – gold medalist at the 1972 Summer Olympics and silver medalist at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships
  • Nate Dusing – silver medalist at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics and bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics
  • Stephanie Elkins – gold medalist at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships and 1979 Pan American Games
  • Jerry Frentsos – gold medalist at the 1987 Pan American Games
  • Gary Hall, Sr. – silver medalist at the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Summer Olympics and bronze medalist at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics
  • Paul Hove – bronze medalist at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships
  • Joe Hudepohl – gold medalist at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics
  • Charles Keating, Jr. – 1946 NCAA swimming champion
  • Dan Ketchum – gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics
  • Mary T. Meagher – gold medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and bronze medalist at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics
  • Glenn Mills – qulaified for 1980 Olympic Games, national high school record holder in 100 breaststroke, NCAA Champion
  • Betsy Mitchell – silver medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics
  • Erin Phenix – gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics and silver medalist at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships
  • Kim Rhodenbaugh – silver medalist at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships and bronze medalist at the 1983 Pan American Games
  • Dave Wilson – gold medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics

Notable Historical staff

  • Will Keller
  • Paul Bergen
  • Gary Hall Sr.
  • Charlie Hickcox
  • Skip Kenney
  • Jay Fitzgerald
  • Denny Pursley
  • Frank Busch
  • Bob Bowman
  • Chuck Warner
  • Jack Simon
  • Ken Stoppkotte

The Cincinnati Marlins website contributed to this story. 

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Brennus
Brennus
7 years ago

Heck of a run! Chris is the kind of coach you hope for and he did an incredible job. He’ll be hard to replace.

Sharon Poole
7 years ago

Ann Bradshaw Esme Ewert brings back memories

Sharon Poole
7 years ago

Yep they were xx

Ann Bradshaw
7 years ago

Hard work with charley

Sharon Poole
7 years ago
Reply to  Ann Bradshaw

Best time, reading all the names deena what a character

Ann Bradshaw
7 years ago

Great days

Keith
7 years ago

Congrats Chris! Need to take Ken off the list.

Karen
Karen
7 years ago
Reply to  Keith

And add Steve Bialorucki

CJ Rushman
CJ Rushman
7 years ago

Congratulation Chris.

Wish you all the best on your next and future endeavors.

Take care.

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