Brophy College Prep, a 43-time Arizona State Championship-winning program in Phoenix, has named Robert Tolar its newest head swimming and diving coach.
Tolar assumes the position after serving as an assistant coach at Brophy under Patrick O’Niell, who recently announced his retirement. O’Niell rejoined Brophy Prep last May after spending seven seasons at Red Mountain High School in Mesa.
Prior to his time at Red Mountain High School, O’Niell won 12 straight Arizona State Championships with Brophy as a head coach from 2006 to 2018.
Brophy won 32 consecutive state titles from 1988 to 2019, the longest streak of any high school in the country. Their most recent state title came in 2024, which ended a five-year drought.
“I’m excited to take on the head coaching position with such a great group of returning swimmers both in, and out of the pool,” said Tolar in a press release from Brophy College Academy. “The Brophy Swim Team has an incredible legacy that I’m humbled and honored to be a part of moving forward.”
Tolar is in his second year on staff at Brophy, where he also works in the Math department. Prior to Brophy, he spent time as an assistant coach at Dobson High School and Mountain Pointe High School.
As a swimmer, Tolar spent three high school seasons competing for Dobson and one with Brophy before swimming one year at Arizona State.
