ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jon Urbanchek, the legendary former head coach of the men's swimming and diving program at the University of Michigan (1982-2004), has passed away peacefully at the age of 87. One of the most successful American swimming coaches in history, Urbanchek was known throughout the swimming world and positively impacted countless lives. 

He passed away late Thursday in Fullerton, Calif., surrounded by his family.  

Urbanchek was a seminal figure in the world of U.S. competitive swimming, not only serving as the head coach for the University of Michigan's men's swimming team, but also as a U.S. Coach for the Olympic Team in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004, and special coach in 2008 and 2012, and a coach of a number of World Championship, Pan American Games and other U.S. International Teams. 

He is also a unique American story. An immigrant from Communist Hungary after the 1956 Soviet invasion, he profoundly impacted the sport of swimming on a global scale, implementing innovative training techniques, stroke innovations and race strategies that have been widely adopted. 

Enshrined in Michigan's Hall of Honor in 2016, Urbanchek was the head coach of the men's swimming and diving program from 1982-2004. He guided the Wolverines to the 1995 NCAA championship and 13 Big Ten titles in 22 seasons. The program won 10 straight conference championships from 1986-95. Overall, his teams were 163-34 in dual meets with an astounding 100-4 mark against Big Ten competition, while he produced 35 individual NCAA champions. In 1995 his U-M team clinched six individual national titles (out of 13 events) and one relay crown in a dominating NCAA championship performance. Student-athletes under his charge attained 315 All-America honors.

He was the NCAA and American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1995 and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year eight times. 

He served as the head coach of the World Championship teams in 1994 and 1998 and as a coach for the U.S. Olympic swim teams in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004, and as a special assistant on the 2008 and 2012 teams. His Olympic medalists include notable names like Mike Barrowman, Gustavo Borges, Tom Dolan, Brent Lang and Peter Vanderkaay, among many others. All told, Urbanchek coached 44 Olympians to more than 20 medals, including 11 gold, six silver, and four bronze medals in five overall Olympic Games, counting four world record holders among his coaching achievements.

Among those Olympians were an astounding 26 from U-M alone, with 10 of those combining for 17 medals. 

Born August 23, 1936, in Hungary, Urbanchek enrolled at the University of Michigan, where he competed on three Wolverine teams that vied for national championships. He earned All-America honors and helped U-M win national titles in 1959 and 1961. In 1961, he placed second nationally in the mile. 

Beginning his studies as an engineer, Urbanchek meticulously and scientifically documented all his workouts during his coaching career in annual notebooks. After his official departure as the head man in Ann Arbor, Urbanchek continued to assist then-head coach Bob Bowman to guide one of the most storied training groups in Club Wolverine from 2004-2009, producing many prominent swimmers, including Michael Phelps, Erik Vendt, and Allison Schmitt just to name a few. Urbanchek then lived in Los Angeles, where he began his career at Anaheim High School, where the pool is now named after him, and Long Beach State, where he became the head coach before moving to Michigan.  After retirement, from 2009 through 2020, he helped coach the elite athlete group at USC under head coach Dave Salo, which led to more successes. 

In addition to his Michigan Hall of Honor, Urbanchek is enshrined in the State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and he was the recipient of the International Olympic Committee's annual Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 as well as many other awards. 

Jon was a special coach of infinite support and positive attitude to swimmers, and who coined a phrase early on for which he is now well known; he would say in his Hungarian accent, "Keep it movin'," or "Move it!".  He was a fun personality to be around, even as he aged into emeritus status.  A testament to this is when the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swim Team released a lip sync video on YouTube to a chart-buster song at the time, "Call Me, Maybe".  Jon appears in the last few seconds of the video, holding his phone and lip-syncing the words, all at age 76. The video got 18 million views.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts to the Jon C. Urbanchek Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports scholarships for U-M student-athletes on the men's swimming team. 

Following are statements about Urbanchek from individuals connected to the athletic department:

"Jon Urbanchek's name is synonymous with extraordinary accomplishments and coaching innovation in the sport of swimming but his positive human impact on the lives of so many is his true legacy. His story speaks to people of all backgrounds - from coming to the United States as an immigrant to finding success and reaching the pinnacle of professional and personal life through his work and amazing family."
-- Warde Manuel, Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics

"People come into our life for a moment, a day, or a lifetime. It matters not the time they spent with you but how they impacted your life in that time. Urby was a person who made an immediate and positive impact on people's lives. He had a cheeky sense of humor and was always willing to give his time to help others learn or better themselves. Urby had one of the most decorated coaching careers in Michigan and Team U.S.A. history. He was a pioneer of our sport and many coaches today still use the Urbanchek color system to categorize aerobic and anaerobic training intensities. On a personal note, I will miss Jon immensely. His support for me, as the new head coach, and his passion for Michigan have been inspiring. Michigan lost a legend but his legacy will continue in our commitment to the future of Michigan Swimming & Diving. As Jon would say, "Keep it moving" and forever, Go Blue!"
-- Matt Bowe, University of Michigan men's and women's swimming and diving head coach

"Jon Urbanchek changed the way we think about training swimmers in many ways. He made it more objective, scientific and measurable. However, Jon's greatest contribution was in developing better humans. He embodied patience, humility and love for everyone he met. He has had an immeasurable influence on my life and on countless others."
-- Bob Bowman, former Michigan swimming and diving head coach (2004-08)

"Jon was an amazing coach. He had the unique ability to train swimmers very hard yet have them keep a smile on their faces. His stints with the National team were legendary. He was everyone's favorite."
-- Mark Schubert, former head coach at USC and University of Texas

"Jon Urbanchek was the Yoda to world swimming. Add on the sense of humor and occasionally needed warm hug. His wisdom grew and spread over the decades and his legacy will continue to influence future generations.  We will miss his presence and carry on his spirit. 'Go Blue! Keep it movin'!'"
-- Mike Bottom, former University of Michigan swimming and diving head coach (2008-23)

"As an educator and coach, Jon lived a life of incredible impact. He had a deep understanding of the subtle mix of ingredients needed to build championship teams and to nurture the pride in preparation to maximize individual performances. For those of us who felt the influence of his love and mentorship, we are forever grateful."
-- Joe Parker, former University of Michigan All-American swimmer and athletic director at Colorado State University

 "Jon had a legendary knack for seeing more in you than you saw in yourself. He'd throw out a challenge, crack a joke, and before you knew it, you were pushing past your limits. Working alongside him, I learned that a great coach doesn't just train athletes; he ignites belief. Watching him turn nervous swimmers into champions, season after season, was like watching a maestro at a symphony -- every note hit just right."
-- Fernando Canales, former University of Michigan All-American swimmer, three-time Olympian, national coach of Puerto Rico and Turkey, head coach of UC Santa Cruz, Colgate University, assistant coach at University of Michigan

"There is nobody like Jon Urbanchek. Jon was a larger-than-life coach who profoundly impacted swimming at a global level. With his magnetically positive demeanor, Jon not only guided his athletes to record-breaking performances in the pool but also inspired them to excel in life. His influence was a key factor in my decision to attend the University of Michigan, and I am deeply grateful for his leadership, teachings, and friendship. The lasting impact of Jon's legacy will be seen in the ongoing inspiration and influence he imparted on the swimmers he mentored, shaping the paths of future generations in the sport.
-- Peter Vanderkaay, former University of Michigan All-American and five-time national championship swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist

"Jon's unwavering belief in people made him a master at inspiring others to recognize and achieve their potential. He transformed the pool into a classroom, teaching life's most valuable lessons and leaving a lasting impact on countless lives, both in the water and beyond."
-- Brent Lang, former University of Michigan All-American, four-time NCAA champion, Olympic gold medalist

"Undeniably among the legendary coaches of our time. Better was his inclusion of all of us on our way up. Fast friend to anyone who crossed his path. If you met him you were undoubtedly added to his contact list along with a selfie together. All of us in swimming owe his wife Melanie and daughter a debt of gratitude for sharing him with us."
-- Dave Salo, former U.S.A. National Team Coach and head coach at USC

"Jon loved fast swimming and he loved a good run and a wonderful cappuccino. He changed our sport and he supported wake-up swims that were longer than 500 meters. He always encouraged everyone to dream big and he was there to remind you that in order to be great you had to 'move it.'"
-- Lea Maurer, Olympic gold medalist and world champion, head coach at USC and Stanford

"Jon will always be in our hearts, minds, and actions. He gave so much to all of us, whether it was a new twist on the English language or encouragement to and for our swimmers. The only thing you take with you when you die is that which you gave to others. Jon takes much with him."
-- Eddie Reese, head coach University of Texas, 15-time NCAA champion, head coach U.S. Olympic swimming team in 2004 and 2008

"It is hard to express how much Jon Urbanchek has meant to me since I first met him in 2012. He was my coach on the 2012 Olympic team and he has been a coach, a mentor and a friend since then. I learned so much from him. He was a kind and dedicated coach who never forgot his swimmers. I will never forget his dedication to our sport, his humor, his coaching style and his love for Team U.S.A. He was a coach of coaches. I know that all of my coaches learned something from him. I am so lucky to have had him as a part of my team….he never stopped coaching and encouraging me."
-- Katie Ledecky, three-time Olympian, seven-time Olympic gold medalist, 21-time world champion, and holder of three world records

"Swimming for Jon was transformative; he saw potential in us that we hadn't even begun to comprehend. As his assistant coach, I learned how his humor and tough love combined to draw the best out of every swimmer. His genius wasn't just in his strategies or techniques, but in the way he built unshakable confidence in all of us. He made us believe we could win any race, any time."
-- Mark Noetzel, former University of Michigan All-Big Ten swimming captain and assistant coach, Hawaii Preparatory Academy head coach