ECU swim and dive's success continues

The East Carolina men’s and women’s swim and dive program has a long, successful history — one that the current players feel a burden to build upon.

The swim and dive program started in 1953 for the men and in 1977 for the women and has been thriving since. In 1957, the men's swimming and diving team became the first team at ECU to win a national championship. The men were again conference champions in 1986 and 1989 while part of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

The women’s team was also crowned the 1995, 1996 and 1997 champion in the CAA, 2001 champ in the East Coast Athletic Conference, and 2003 champ in the Conference USA.

Throughout the years, 87 Pirates swimmers and divers have been named All-Americans. In more recent years, two swimmers from the 2014-2015 team, Rokas Cepulis and Megan Sellers, received the honors.

The man who started this successful program was Roy Martinez. During his coaching period, he shaped 45 of those 87 All-American swimmers and led 15 NAIA's and four NCAA College Division national champions.

Martinez made his mark on the program, but so has current head swim coach Rick Kobe. He and his coaching staff have made Pirate swimming possibly the most successful it has ever been.

“The biggest change is that due to our successes over the years we are able to recruit a bigger volume of elite athletes. Also, a lot of this is due to having a full staff,” said Kobe. “Back in the day, it was just me and a graduate assistant.”

In the 33 years he has been a coach, Kobe has been named the winningest coach in Pirate athletics history, won over 70 percent of their dual meets, while coaching four NCAA All-Americans, 157 individual event conference champions and 209 all-conference performers.

This past season, Kobe was also named American Athletic Conference men’s swim Coach of the Year.

Working alongside Kobe are associate head coach Matthew Jabs, head assistant coach Kate Moore, assistant coach Kevin Woodull-Smith, assistant coach Doug Parker and head dive coach Ryan Hunt.

“We have developed a solid positive family atmosphere here and that lends itself to good solid relationships with your swimmers and divers,” said Kobe.

Last year the men’s team was the AAC swim and dive champion and the women were serious contenders.The swimmers, divers, and coaches have made it clear they intend to win again and believe with hard work, they will.

“I'm very proud of the consistent quality teams we have had year after year and the quality assistant coaches that have helped make this possible,” said Kobe.

This season, both the men’s and women’s team have both proven their drive by placing in the top three at the meets they’ve had so far, including the North Carolina Invitational and the Old Dominion-Navy meet.

The Pirates’ next competition will be against UNCW on Oct. 23 in Wilmington.