| Tom Groden |
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Tom Groden enters his 36th season as the Head Coach for Boston College's men's and women's swimming and diving teams. He has been the Eagles' only head coach since starting the program in 1973, the year after his graduation.
In 35 seasons, Groden has amassed an overall record of 565-248-4. He has posted a 310-102-4 record as the women's coach and 255-146 as the men's coach. Groden is the first NCAA head coach to record 200 wins with both a men's and women's program at the same institution. He enters the 2007 season with the second most all-time wins as a college swim coach, trailing former North Carolina Head Coach Frank Comfort, who finished with 578 wins. Groden holds the NCAA record for most wins by a swimming head coach at the same college.
On Nov. 22, 2003, Groden earned his 500th career win when BC defeated UNH. On Jan. 17, 2004, BC topped both the men's and women's squads of URI, for Groden's 501st and 502nd career victories. These two wins equaled and passed Coach John "Snooks" Kelley as Boston College's all-time leader in wins in any sport. Snooks was instrumental in securing Groden's job as pool director at BC after his graduation. Also, when Snooks coached his first hockey team at BC during the 1932-33 season, Groden's father, Harold ('35) was on the team.
Groden has led the women's team to 22 championships. The latest post-season victory came three seasons ago when the women captured their sixth ECAC Championship against UNH. The 22 championship titles include New England (9), ECAC (6), Greater Boston (5) and the National Catholic (2). The team has also finished as high as second in the BIG EAST Championship (1985-86, 1986-87) and once placed as high as fifth at the NCAA Division II Championship.
The men's squads have grabbed three second-place team finishes at the New England Championships (1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91) and a pair of third-place finishes at the National Catholic Championships (1992-93, 1993-94). In 2001, the men captured the Black Bear Invitational, followed by the placing first in the Northeastern Invitational in 2002. Last season, the men earned first place at the Orange Bowl Classic.
Boston College individual swimmers have achieved numerous athletic and academic accomplishments under Groden. Eight former swimmers and divers have been enshrined into the BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Six female swimmers have qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships and five different swimmers have earned Eagle of the Year honors.
Groden's teams excelled in the classroom, as the programs are structured to allow success both athletically and academically. Along with winning records and improving times, the Eagle swimmers;s team GPA consistentsly place sin the top national tier. The men and women both placed 31st nationally during the 2006-07 season.
Groden has been the recipient of several Coach of the Year awards from the ECAC, the BIG EAST, the NEWISDA and the National Catholic's organization. He was also awarded the Masters Coach Award from the CSCAA.
A 1972 graduate of Boston College, Groden played four years on both the soccer and water polo teams. He captured Most Valuable Player honors in water polo as a senior.
He resides with his wife Sara, a BC swimming Varsity Club Hall of Fame member, in Walpole, Mass. They have two daughters, Susan (22) and Erin (19). Susan graduated from BC last spring and is working in New York, N.Y., while Erin is a sophomore at Boston College.
