The University of Akron Athletics
Vereb Resigns as Head Swimming and Diving Coach
March 02 | Women's Swimming & Diving
AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron women's swimming and diving head coach Brian Vereb has resigned, director of athletics Mack Rhoades announced on Thursday.
Vereb, who just completed his eighth season at the helm of the Zips, will remain on staff until April 3. However, a national search for a successor will begin immediately.
A 1992 graduate of the College of Wooster, Vereb was a four-year letterwinner and NCAA qualifier in the backstroke events. He came to Akron in 1998 as the program's first head swimming and diving coach.
"A job opportunity came along for my wife that will have us moving to Virginia," Vereb said. "This opportunity will give me time to be a stay-at-home dad and to spend more time with my children and my family. I have cherished my time with Akron and will always be a Zips fan at heart. I wish the university, the athletics program and the swimming and diving squad much success in the future."
A two-time Mid-American Conference Swimming Coach of the Year (2000-01, 2001-02), Vereb saw two Zips earn a total of three individual league swimming titles and coached 10 first-team All-MAC selections, including a school-record three members in 2006. Akron ended the 2005-06 season with a 5-7-1 record, including 1-5-1 in the MAC, before finishing in seventh place at last week's league championship meet.
"In just the short time I have had the opportunity to work Brian, his strong leadership of the program and care for the student-athlete has been very apparent," Rhoades said. "The program was very fortunate Brian Vereb was chosen eight years ago to serve as the first swimming and diving coach. We are grateful for his dedication to UA Athletics and the swimming and diving program and wish his family and him the very best."
Akron finished the 2004-05 season with an 8-6-1 mark in the MAC
and extended its home undefeated streak to a program-best
10-straight meets. Over the last four seasons, Vereb led the Zips
to an 18-8-1 mark at home and a combined 21-16-1 over his
eight-year tenure. He had an overall record of 52-59-2, including a
13-46-2 mark in the MAC.
During the 2003-04 campaign, Vereb led the Zips to a program-best 16-6 mark while going 4-4 in the MAC. The Zips finished fifth at the 2004 MAC Championships meet, Akron's best-ever finish in the league meet.
Vereb's leadership in the natatorium and dedication to encourage the same performance in the classroom helped the Zips finish second in the NCAA Division I ranks in team GPA during the 2003-04 season. UA swimmers finished that year with a 3.55 team GPA, a mere 0.11 points behind Washington State.
The Zips led the league in Academic All-MAC honorees in each of the last three seasons.
