March 7, 2006

George Villarreal Resigns as Head Men's Swimming Coach

CHICAGO - University of Chicago Director of Athletics Tom Weingartner announced today that George Villarreal has resigned his position as head men's swimming coach and aquatics director, effective at the end of the 2005-06 season.

Villarreal is in his third year at Chicago, where he has compiled a dual meet record of 12-9-1 (.568) and guided the Maroons to a pair of NCAA Division III top-40 finishes.

Under Villarreal, Chicago posted its best-ever UAA Championship finishes and enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in the past 18 years.

Chicago swimmers established varsity records on 28 occasions in 14 events under Villarreal's tutelage, while relay teams met NCAA Division III Championship qualifying standards for the first time in the University's post-Big Ten era.

In 2005, Northe Saunders, a UAA Champion and UAA record-holder, was the first Maroon to earn repeat All-America honors since national champion Kris Alden in 1990-91.

During Villarreal's tenure, Chicago swimmers garnered UAA Athlete of the Week honors on five occasions, and three Maroons were awarded College Swim Coaches Association of America scholar All-America honors.

Prior to his arrival at Chicago, Villarreal served as head men's and women's swimming coach at Frostburg State University from 1998-2003. He began his collegiate coaching career as the head women's swimming coach at Gallaudet University, a position he held from 1995-96.