Montclair State Head Coach Brian McLaughlin Retires after 37 Years
Montclair State head swimming and diving coach Brian McLaughlin announced his retirement after 37 years.
McLaughlin has spent nearly four decades at the Division III school in New Jersey, leading its men’s and women’s swimming and diving outfits. He finishes his career with a 398-367-2 record.
“To say that this has been an amazing ride would be an understatement,” McLaughlin said in a university press release. “I have the deepest appreciation for the friends I have made on campus and throughout the sport of swimming. I want to thank Greg Lockard, Holly Gera and Rob Chesney for being fantastic Athletic Directors, mentors and friends over all these years. A special thanks to Coach Dick Purdy of the United States Naval Academy and also to my longest serving assistant coach, Maria Vira.”
In 1989, McLaughlin inherited teams that were a combined 4-17 the year before his arrival. He led them to 44 wins over the next four years, with five NCAA Division III Championships qualifiers and thee All-Americans in that span. He was named the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference Coach of the Year in 1993 and the NJAC Men’s Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year in 2011 and the Women’s Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015.
McLaughlin led the Red Hawks women’s team to the Metropolitan title in 1995 and 1996. He had an NCAAs qualifier as recently as 2024.
McLaughlin also coached the women’s tennis team as a multiple-time NJAC Coach of the Year, winning its only conference title in 1996 and coaching through 2003 with a 106-65-1 record. He also served as the university’s assistant athletic director. McLaughlin is a 1981 graduate of Central Connecticut.