University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Swimming & Diving
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- rnewc@admin.umass.edu
- Phone:
- 545-4342
Bob Newcomb brings over three decades of success as he heads into his 37th season as the head coach of the University of Massachusetts women's swiming and diving team in 2020-21. During his previous 36 seasons, he has compiled a 189-148-1 overall record and in 2001, led the Minutewomen to their first-ever Atlantic 10 Conference championship.
Newcomb's other highlights during his career include producing 42 Atlantic 10 champions, 37 New England champions, eight New England Championship record holders, nine NCAA Championship qualifiers, and one UMass Hall of Fame inductee.
During his tenure at UMass, he has coached successful athletes such as Michelle Leary (1990 New England High Point Swimmer, 2007 UMass Hall of Fame), Allison White (1993-94 Atlantic 10 Diver of the Year), Becky Hunnewell (2000-01 Most Outstanding Performer at the Atlantic 10 Championships), Michaela Butler (2012-14 Atlantic 10 Diver of the Year and 3-time All-America in 2013-14), Emma Roush (2016-18 Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Diver), and Maja Boric (Three time NCAA Championship qualifier, 2020 Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Diver).
Boric became the first diver in UMass program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships in three different seasons after qualifying for the national meet in 2020 on her way to earning a CSCAA All-American Team selection following the shortened season. Roush earned a spot at the national meet in 2017 and went on to earn honorable mention all-America honors in the 1-Meter Dive.
Butler finished her collegiate career as a three-time All-American and became the first diver in the Atlantic 10 Conference history to score at the NCAA Championships. Her points on both boards pushed UMass to 30th place in 2013 and 27th place in 2014 - the highest team finish in league history.
His coaching efforts have been recognized twice, as he received the New England Women's Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year honors in 1988 and 1989. Newcomb also served two terms as the NEWISDA Vice President.
In addition to his women's swimming and diving responsibilities, Newcomb also served as head coach of the women's water polo team at UMass for three years, compiling a 54-25 (.684) record.
Before coming to UMass, Newcomb served as an assistant swim coach at the Alamo Area Aquatic Association in San Antonio, Texas. He has also been the head swimming and water polo coach at San Antonio's John Jay High School, the assistant swimming, diving and water polo coach at Washington and Lee (Va.) University and an assistant swimming coach at Springfield College.
A 1980 graduate of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., with a bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences, Newcomb was a four-year member of both the swimming and water polo teams. While an undergraduate, he was a 1978 Division III All-America selection in swimming (freestyle) and earned a spot on the All-Southern Conference water polo team in 1980.
Newcomb and his wife, Judi, reside in Amherst. They have two daughters, Madeline and Olivia.
| Bob Newcomb's Year-By-Year Head Coaching Record | ||||
| Year | W | L | New England Champ. Finish | |
| 1984-85 | 3 | 9 | Sixth | |
| 1985-86 | 7 | 5 | Third | |
| 1986-87 | 8 | 4 | Third | |
| 1987-88 | 8 | 3 | Fourth; N.E. Coach of the Year | |
| 1988-89 | 8 | 4 | Third; N.E. Coach of the Year | |
| 1989-90 | 8 | 4 | Sixth | |
| 1990-91 | 8 | 3 | Third | |
| 1991-92 | 6 | 8 | Fourth | |
| 1992-93 | 7 | 4 | Fourth | |
| 1993-94 | 4 | 6 | Third | |
| Atlantic 10 competition begins | ||||
| 1994-95 | 7 | 4 (1 tie) | Fifth | |
| 1995-96 | 6 | 2 | Third | |
| 1996-97 | 10 | 3 | Fourth | |
| 1997-98 | 8 | 3 | Fourth | |
| 1998-99 | 9 | 2 | Fourth | |
| 1999-00 | 7 | 4 | Third | |
| 2000-01 | 10 | 3 | Atlantic 10 Champions | |
| 2001-02 | 6 | 5 | Fourth | |
| 2002-03 | 2 | 7 | Fifth | |
| 2003-04 | 4 | 3 | Fifth | |
| 2004-05 | 3 | 4 | Fourth | |
| 2005-06 | 4 | 3 | Third | |
| 2006-07 | 2 | 5 | Second | |
| 2007-08 | 4 | 4 | Fourth | |
| 2008-09 | 4 | 4 | Fourth | |
| 2009-10 | 4 | 4 | Third | |
| 2010-11 | 3 | 4 | Third | |
| 2011-12 | 3 | 4 | Fourth | |
| 2012-13 | 4 | 3 | Second | |
| 2013-14 | 4 | 3 | Third | |
| 2014-15 | 3 | 3 | Second | |
| 2015-16 | 3 | 4 | Fourth | |
| 2016-17 | 2 | 4 | Third | |
| 2017-18 | 2 | 3 | Sixth | |
| 2018-19 | 4 | 4 | Fifth | |
| 2019-20 | 4 | 4 | Seventh | |
| Totals | 189 | 148 | 1 Atlantic 10 Championship 3 Atlantic 10 Runner-Up Finishes |
|
Bob Newcomb Career Highlights
• 2001 Atlantic 10 Champions
• Coached NCAA Qualifiers in 2002, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Coached a Two-Time Atlantic 10 Swimmer of the Year
• 177-131-1 Record at UMass
• Team GPA over 3.0 in 23 of last 28 semesters
• Two-Time New England Coach of the Year
• Assisted a 2000 Olympic Diver
• Coached CSCAA Academic All-American Becky Hunnewell
• Coached three-time All-American Michaela Butler
