** Note ** Eastern Illinois head swimming coach Ray Padovan will coach his last home meet for the Panthers on Saturday, Feb. 2 when EIU hosts Saint Louis at Noon at Lantz Natatorium. 

After 42 years as head coach for the men’s and women’s swimming teams at Eastern Illinois University, Ray Padovan has is entering the stretch run of his long career as he will retire following the season.

Padovan is the longest tenured coach in EIU history outlasting the man whose name (Coach Lantz) sits on the building he has been coaching in since the fall of 1966.

During that time Padovan has been extremely successful with both teams in the including seven conference championships and an undefeated season in 2003 with the men’s program and 2003 Midwest Championships championship with the women’s program. He has coached the men’s program for all 42 years, and the women’s for 29 years.

Through the years Padovan has seen several changes to Eastern’s swimming program from starting off in the NAIA, transitioning first to NCAA Division II and later to its current NCAA Division I status. He also has noticed that coaches in today’s athletic environment are hiring merely to coach and not pull double duty as both coaches and university instructors. In fact he just recently retired from an assistant professor position in the College of Education and Professional studies at EIU.

Coach Padovan has experienced many memories and highlights during his 42 years as head coach. Some of the most memorable were ending up 3rd in the nation a couple times while in NCAA Division II, when certain individuals swam well at conference meets or were named All-Americans at the NCAA Division I level.

Ray has been at Eastern long enough to coach the children of people who used to swim for him here years ago. "This season I have four or five kids of former swimmers," he said. "We’ve already had a few go through."

Padovan also joked that he has been doing this so long that he used to swim with the grandfather of Bill Senese, who graduated last year and was one of Eastern’s best swimmers. Coach Padovan swam for Southern Illinois University and is a member of the SIU’s Hall of Fame.

Of his decision to retire, Padovan said, "There comes a point in time where you have to say ‘enough’, and I kind of reached that point last year."

He and his wife have decided to stay in the area, and will still be here to support the program. Padovan adding that he would be available to help out whenever needed by a new coach, showing that coaching is something that can not be given up overnight after 42 years of service.

Story by Alison Henry - Sports Information Intern