Completed Event: Swimming and Diving at Harold Anderson Invitational on November 21, 2025 ,
Swimming and Diving
at Harold Anderson Invitational
Final
Providence College Athletics
Photo by: Kostas Lymperopoulos
Providence College Swimming & Diving Head Coach John O'Neill Announces Retirement
3/31/2026 9:58:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
In honor of his 36 seasons at Providence, the College has established The Cindy and John O’Neill Swimming and Diving Endowed Fund.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Providence College swimming & diving Head Coach John O'Neill announced his retirement today [March 31]. O'Neill served two stints at Providence, separated by a five-year term as head coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point (2001-06). O'Neill's first tour of duty at Providence began in 1984-85 and he then spent 17 seasons on the deck until departing for West Point in 2001. He returned as the Friars' head coach in 2007 and recently completed his 19th-consecutive season and 36th overall. O'Neill will finish his tenure at the College in June. A retirement celebration will be planned for Saturday, Sept. 12 and will coincide with the annual Swim Across America – Rhode Island event, which O'Neill's programs and the alumni base have been heavily involved with over the years.
"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."
At Providence, O'Neill presided over some of the most successful squads in the history of the program. Nine of his student-athletes combined to win 20 BIG EAST Individual Championships, including five women and four men. Horace Bowden '89 captured the Friars' first individual title in 1986. Justin Viotto '22, Kevin Hood '23 and Will Layden '24 round out the list of BIG EAST Champs on the men's side. Layden is the program's most decorated swimmer for the men's program, having won a total four individual BIG EAST titles. On the women's side, Cindi Luciani '90 claimed a Providence College record six BIG EAST titles. Cathy Ritch '92, Allyson Dunleavey '95 and Michele Tamburo '95 each claimed two BIG EAST titles, while Karen Crossman '91 rounds out the list of athletes who claimed titles.
O'Neill has received many coaching accolades, including men's New England Coach of the Year (1999), New England Women's Coach of the Year (1990, 1992, 1993), BIG EAST Women's Coach of the Year (1988) and BIG EAST Men's Coach of the Year (2021).
His teams have excelled in the classroom, as they have consistently been amongst the list of programs honored as CSCAA Scholar All-America Teams.
During his time at West Point, O'Neill was named Patriot League Co-Coach of the Year in men's swimming and diving in 2004. He also coached 15 swimmers who set Academy records, 32 All-Patriot League performers, 11 Patriot League Champions and earned 16 CSCAA Academic All-American team honors.
O'Neill's involvement with Swim Across America – Rhode Island has spanned 16 years. During that time, he helped to increase the number of college programs that register for the event – now seeing more than a dozen college teams participate annually. Providence College swimming & diving, under the direction of his leadership, has raised over $550,000 to support cancer research at Women and Infants Hospital Rhode Island.
"For more than three decades, Coach O'Neill has dedicated himself to the Friar swimming & diving programs, his student-athletes and the Providence College community," Athletic Director Steve Napolillo said. "Having built the program from the ground up in 1984, we are grateful for his tireless leadership and his unwavering commitment to his student-athletes. We wish John, his wife, Cindy, and his entire family all the best in retirement. He will always be a part of the Friar family."
O'Neill is a 1981 graduate of Springfield College, where he swam for three seasons on the varsity squad. A past President of both the BIG EAST and New England Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Associations, O'Neill was inducted into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1994. This May, O'Neill will be recognized as the recipient of the Elliss Mayers Humanitarian Award as part of the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame Ceremony.
CINDY AND JOHN O'NEILL SWIMMING AND DIVING ENDOWED FUND
In honor of his 36 seasons, Providence College is proud to announce the establishment of the Cindy and John O'Neill Swimming and Diving Endowed Fund. 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. Those interested in learning more about the fund or contributing to its future are encouraged to connect with Eric Burtchell '13, Associate AD for External Relations/Major Gift Officer (eburtche@providence.edu).
- GO FRIARS! -
"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."
At Providence, O'Neill presided over some of the most successful squads in the history of the program. Nine of his student-athletes combined to win 20 BIG EAST Individual Championships, including five women and four men. Horace Bowden '89 captured the Friars' first individual title in 1986. Justin Viotto '22, Kevin Hood '23 and Will Layden '24 round out the list of BIG EAST Champs on the men's side. Layden is the program's most decorated swimmer for the men's program, having won a total four individual BIG EAST titles. On the women's side, Cindi Luciani '90 claimed a Providence College record six BIG EAST titles. Cathy Ritch '92, Allyson Dunleavey '95 and Michele Tamburo '95 each claimed two BIG EAST titles, while Karen Crossman '91 rounds out the list of athletes who claimed titles.
O'Neill has received many coaching accolades, including men's New England Coach of the Year (1999), New England Women's Coach of the Year (1990, 1992, 1993), BIG EAST Women's Coach of the Year (1988) and BIG EAST Men's Coach of the Year (2021).
His teams have excelled in the classroom, as they have consistently been amongst the list of programs honored as CSCAA Scholar All-America Teams.
During his time at West Point, O'Neill was named Patriot League Co-Coach of the Year in men's swimming and diving in 2004. He also coached 15 swimmers who set Academy records, 32 All-Patriot League performers, 11 Patriot League Champions and earned 16 CSCAA Academic All-American team honors.
O'Neill's involvement with Swim Across America – Rhode Island has spanned 16 years. During that time, he helped to increase the number of college programs that register for the event – now seeing more than a dozen college teams participate annually. Providence College swimming & diving, under the direction of his leadership, has raised over $550,000 to support cancer research at Women and Infants Hospital Rhode Island.
"For more than three decades, Coach O'Neill has dedicated himself to the Friar swimming & diving programs, his student-athletes and the Providence College community," Athletic Director Steve Napolillo said. "Having built the program from the ground up in 1984, we are grateful for his tireless leadership and his unwavering commitment to his student-athletes. We wish John, his wife, Cindy, and his entire family all the best in retirement. He will always be a part of the Friar family."
O'Neill is a 1981 graduate of Springfield College, where he swam for three seasons on the varsity squad. A past President of both the BIG EAST and New England Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Associations, O'Neill was inducted into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1994. This May, O'Neill will be recognized as the recipient of the Elliss Mayers Humanitarian Award as part of the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame Ceremony.
CINDY AND JOHN O'NEILL SWIMMING AND DIVING ENDOWED FUND
In honor of his 36 seasons, Providence College is proud to announce the establishment of the Cindy and John O'Neill Swimming and Diving Endowed Fund. 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. Those interested in learning more about the fund or contributing to its future are encouraged to connect with Eric Burtchell '13, Associate AD for External Relations/Major Gift Officer (eburtche@providence.edu).
- GO FRIARS! -
Swimming & Diving vs. Holy Cross
Saturday, January 31
Men's Swimming & Diving vs. Villanova
Saturday, November 08
