It will now be known as the Monte Nitzkowski Aquatics Center at Long Beach City College (LBCC).
On Wednesday, Long Beach City College (CA) held a ceremony to officially posthumously rename its aquatics center after Nitzkowski, a revered coach and athlete in both swimming and water polo.
Nitzkowski, who died in 2016 at the age of 86, coached LBCC to 32 conference titles in water polo and 12 in swimming over a 34-year span. He was the U.S. Men’s Olympic Water Polo coach three times in 1972, 1980 (no participation due to boycott) and 1984, guiding the Americans to a bronze medal finish in 1972 and a silver medal in 1984.
“Coach Nitzkowski was more than a champion in the pool—he was a mentor who shaped generations of student-athletes and elevated the reputation of Long Beach City College on a national and international stage,” said Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBCC Superintendent-President in a release. “By dedicating our Aquatics Center in his name, we are celebrating his enduring impact on our college community and ensuring that his legacy of excellence continues to inspire future student athletes.”
Among the family in attendance at the ceremony was his widow, Barbara.
In addition to being an accomplished coach, Nitzkowski was an acclaimed athlete. He swam and played water polo at UCLA in 1950 and 1951, where he captained the swim team and earned All-American status. Nitzkowski won two conference championships in the then- Pacific Coast Conference and set a conference record in the men’s 200 breaststroke.
After graduating from UCLA, Nitzkowski joined the U.S. Naval Academy and eventually made the 1952 Olympic swim team in Helsinki, Finland, where he finished 11th in the 200 butterfly.
Nitzkowski was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1991 and the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1993.
Too bad they didn’t think to invite the aquatic community in Long Beach. Pretty sure none of us knew this was happening, or we would have been there to support it.
Fantastic. Monte was one of the greatest people in all of sports with his helping advice and coaching of coaches.