Lafayette Coach Jim Dailey to Retire after 32 Seasons
Lafayette College head swimming and diving coach Jim Dailey announced on Friday that he will retire before the 2026-27 season, ending 32 seasons at the helm of the program.
Mike Rinde will take over as interim head coach. He has been an assistant for the last two seasons.
Dailey arrived as an assistant coach in 1991 and served for two seasons. He was the interim head coach in 1993-94 before being named the 12th head coach in program history in 1994.
Dailey led Leopards swimmers to 29 individual Patriot League titles, with 23 men and 20 women named All-Patriot League. His pupils include 1992 All-American and Hong Kong Olympian Andrew Rutherford and 1995 Patriot League Swimmer of the Meet Javier Fente.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity that Lafayette gave me,” Dailey said in a press release. “Lafayette Swimming and Diving has been unique in so many ways. This has been the best job in the world. It kept me young, involved and optimistic. It taught me so much about people and relationships between them. I’ve received so much from all of the alumni, student-athletes and their families over the years and hopefully, I was able to give something back. To say Lafayette has provided me a lot is an understatement. I’m very appreciative of the experience and time it allowed me to grow.”
Dailey’s program has also generated two NCAA Women of the Year nominees and two NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients.
“Jim has been a loyal and dedicated leader of young men and women for more than three decades on College Hill,” Lafayette Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman said. “Beyond his remarkable longevity, Jim has been a trusted leader and mentor among our coaching staff, setting a standard of professionalism, integrity, and excellence. He has helped attract some of Lafayette’s brightest scholar-athletes and has been a driving force in fostering a culture of achievement within our swimming and diving program. His impact extends far beyond wins and losses, as he has helped shape the lives and competitive careers of more than 600 student-athletes during his time at Lafayette. We are deeply grateful for his unwavering commitment to our department and wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
