Upcoming Event: Swimming and Diving versus Friar Invitational on October 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Swimming and Diving
vs Friar Invitational
11:00 AM
Providence College Athletics
Swimming and Diving
O'Neill, John
John O'Neill
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- (401) 865-2268
John O'Neill begins his 32th year at Providence College as the head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving programs. The 2020-21 season marks his 15th-consecutive season with the Friars, after serving five years as head coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. O'Neill founded the Friars program in 1984-85 and spent 17 seasons leading the program through the 2000-2001 season.
As head coach of the Friars, O'Neill has presided over some of the most successful squads in the history of the program. In 1986, he coached PC's first BIG EAST individual champion, Horace Bowden. On the women's side, O'Neill coached five different BIG EAST Champions who have won a total of 12 different events at the BIG EAST Swimming & Diving Championships. 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) and BIG EAST Women's Coach of the Year (1988).
O'Neill was the head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving programs at West Point from 2001-2006. O'Neill was named Patriot League Co-Coach of the Year in men's swimming and diving in 2004. During his tenure on Army's pool deck, he coached 15 swimmers who set Academy records, 32 All-Patriot League performers, 11 Patriot League Champions and 16 CSCAA Academic All-Americans.
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. He currently serves as Vice President of the BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Coaches Association. O'Neill and his wife Cindy have three children, Shannon, 26, a graduate of Springfield College, Tom, 24, a graduate of Providence College, and Meghan, 18. The O'Neills reside in Cumberland, R.I.
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