Longtime Providence Head Coach John O’Neill Announces Retirement After 36 Seasons With Program

Providence Head Coach John O’Neill announced his retirement today, March 31st. O’Neill has spent a total of 36 year with the program, from 1984-2001 and then from 2007 until today.

“It’s been a privilege to work with the many outstanding student-athletes who have represented our programs,” O’Neill said. “I can’t thank Athletic Director Steve Napolillo, our entire athletic department staff and our hard-working swimming and diving coaches enough for all their help. My family and I are grateful to have served the college community and called this home for so many years. We now look forward to supporting the programs in every way possible moving forward.”

O’Neill graduated from Springfield College in 1981 and arrived at Providence three years later for the 1984-1985 season. He spent 17 seasons with the team before departing for a six-year stint at Army in 2001. He returned to Providence in 2007 and has served as head coach of the program ever since.

During his time with Providence, O’Neill coached nine swimmers to a total of 20 Big East individual titles. Will Layden most recently won Big East titles during the 2023-2024 season as he won the 50 free (19.66) and 100 free (44.11). O’Neill was named Big East Coach Of The Year in 1988 on the women’s side and in 2021 on the men’s side.

The men’s program finished 5th out of five teams while the women’s program finished 7th out of seven teams at the 2026 Big East Championships.

The school has announced that in honor of O’Neill’s 36 season with the program, they are establishing the Cindy and John O’Neill Swimming and Diving Endowed Fund. The school announced, “Thanks to the generosity of program alumni Michael J. Hurley ’92 and Megan Anderson Hurley ’92, this fund will support the immediate needs of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs as determined by the Head Coach and the College’s Athletic Director. This meaningful tribute provides an opportunity for alumni, families and friends of the program to celebrate Coach O’Neill’s lasting impact on the program.”