Harvey Humphries Announces Retirement from Coaching After 5 Decades

Georgia senior associate head coach Harvey Humphries (left) and Georgia’s head coach Jack Bauerle during the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships in 2018. Photo Courtesy: Steven Colquitt

Harvey Humphries, who has been a fixture in the Georgia swimming and diving program for parts of five decades, announced this week that he will be retiring from collegiate coaching, effective at the end of the month.

“I have always told our student-athletes, ‘Look at the big picture. It’s never about one person,'” Humphries said. “I am flooded with emotions right now, but when I look at the big picture, I’m not sad. I am proud of everything that we have accomplished as a program. And while this is hard to do, I’m confident it is the right time for me to step aside. It gives the program room to grow. We have a great coaching staff, and I know that things are only going to get better and better. I’m excited about what the future holds for all of us.”

Humphries was a swimmer for Georgia during the 1975-76 through 1978-79 seasons, worked as a graduate assistant coach in 1979-80 and 1981-82, and then became a full-time assistant at the start of the 1982-83 campaign. He has been serving as Georgia’s Associate Head Coach since 2012.

“The positive impact Harvey has made on our program is immeasurable,” said Jack Bauerle, Georgia’s Tom Cousins Swimming and Diving Head Coach, who hired Humphries. “No amount of words can do it justice. He is an incredible human being. He is Georgia swimming. His loyalty to this school and to our program is unmatched. It has been my privilege to be on the deck with him, not just as cohorts but as great friends. We have had an amazing amount of good times together. He cares so much about the student-athletes, and that’s the greatest measure of any coach.”

With Humphries as Bauerle’s right-hand man, Georgia has claimed seven team national championships, 12 Southeastern Conference team titles, 99 individual and relay national crowns, three NCAA Woman of the Year winners, and 39 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients. Georgia swimmers and divers are recognized on the collegiate, national, and international stages.

He has impacted the program in a variety of ways, perhaps none more significantly than distance events and recruiting. Under Humphries’ tutelage, Georgia swimmers have earned 22 NCAA and 59 SEC titles in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle and the 400-yard individual medley.

Humphries has served since 1981 as head coach of the Athens Bulldog Swim Club (ABSC) which has developed some of the top talent in the Southeast and can boast Olympic, Paralympic, NCAA, and SEC champions. Humphries received the first Schluetter Award, given to top national age-group coaches, in 2011. Humphries was inducted into the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame in 2003 and was chosen as Established Assistant Coach of the Year in 2016.

Humphries graduated from Georgia in 1980 with a degree in Microbiology. He and his wife Wendy have two children, a son Billy and a daughter Pirie.

Check out more SEC news here.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the University of Georgia. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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Dwight Thomas Davis

4 years ago

Great job done my friend!

Frank Comfort

4 years ago

Harvey is one of the finest coaches I have ever met in any sport…. & had the honor of coaching with & against. His loyalty to the U. of Georgia is unmatched. My best to you for a long & healthy retirement.

Steve Justice

4 years ago

I swam at Georgia Tech when Harvey was at UGA; he has always been a great competitor and gentleman. Best wishes Harvey!