FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (May 15, 2025) - Assistant swimming coach Larry Liebowitz announces his retirement after the 2024–2025 season, capping a legendary coaching career that spanned the collegiate, national, and international levels.
After nine seasons with Northern Arizona University's swimming and diving program, Liebowitz ends his illustrious tenure. Under his direction, the Lumberjacks became one of the top programs in the Western Athletic Conference. Since coming to NAU in 2016, Liebowitz has played a key role in the team's ongoing success. In his first season, he helped lead the Lumberjacks to a WAC Championship and shaped the careers of many exceptional student-athletes.
"Larry has been a tremendous asset to the program during his nine years in Flagstaff. We are indebted to him for the impact he had on so many people during his tenure," head swimming coach Andy Johns said. "Our record board is filled with swimmers who Larry coached to incredible results. And as great of a coach that he was, he's an even better person who will be missed greatly. Thank you, Larry."
Among the many highlights of Liebowitz's time in Flagstaff was his mentorship of standout swimmers such as Haley Mayhew, who shattered program records in the 200 breaststroke (2:12.95) and 200 IM (2:00.04) en route to WAC gold and silver medals at the 2023 championships. He also coached stars like Elisa Rodriguez, a CSCAA Scholar All-American and multi-time WAC champion, and Hope Williams, who set the NAU record in the 100 breaststroke and earned three gold medals at the 2021 WAC Championships.
Prior to joining NAU, Liebowitz served 13 successful years as head coach of Oregon State, where he guided the Beavers to three of their highest-ever NCAA Championship finishes, including a 20th-place result in 2004. Under his leadership, OSU produced seven All-Americans, in addition to 47 of his student-athletes receiving Pac-12 All-Academic distinction and the school's only NCAA Champion, Saori Haruguchi. She won the individual 200-yard butterfly national championship in 2008 and Birte Steven secured a runner-up finish in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2004. Both Haruguchi (Japan, 2008) and Steven (Germany, 2004) competed at the Summer Olympics, representing their countries while still student-athletes.
Liebowitz was the head assistant coach for the women's and men's teams at Southern California for eight years before joining Oregon State. The Trojan programs at USC never placed lower than seventh in the NCAA Championships. In 1997, his second year on the staff, the USC women won the national championship.
His extensive international coaching experience is another noteworthy addition to his well-known resume. He was the head coach of the U.S. men's team at the 2003 World University Games before most recently coaching eight swimmers at the 2010 Youth Olympics. Additionally, he has experience abroad, having served as the U.S. men's team's assistant coach at the Pan Am Games in 1995 and 1999 and the World University Games in 1997. He was also working as a member of the Costa Rican Olympic Team in 1998. Liebowitz has previously coached Amy White and Mike O'Brien, both of whom won medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Having coached the Santa Barbara Swim Club from 1989 to 1995, Liebowitz also has club coaching experience. In five of his seven seasons, his teams placed in the top 10 at the Senior Nationals. Liebowitz guided Richard Schroeder (breaststroke) and Brian Alderman (butterfly) to national titles during this period. Alderman would later make the U.S. teams at the Goodwill Games and the short and long course World Championships, and both swimmers would go on to represent the United States at the Pan Am Games.
He started his coaching career at University of Detroit High School and with the Ferndale Barracudas Swim Club.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Liebowitz graduated from Oakland University in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Before moving to Oakland, he spent two years swimming competitively at Wayne State.
"I would like to thank the NAU athletic department, Andy Johns and all my fellow coaches for their support," Leibowitz said. "It's been a good nine seasons filled with conference championships, best times, and a lot of smiles. I will miss getting to know the athletes who have kept me young. Thank you!"
As he steps away from the deck, Liebowitz leaves behind a powerful legacy defined by excellence, mentorship, and a lifelong commitment to the sport he loves.
