James J. McCann Center, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY   

(845) 575-3000 EXT. 2321

Now in his 29th year of servicing the Marist College aquatics program, Larry VanWagner's accomplishments speak for themselves.

The ranking tenured coach on the Marist campus, VanWagner came to the Poughkeepsie campus in 1976, just prior to the completion (1977) of the James J. McCann Recreation Center, which houses the school's natatorium. Under his direction, Marist College elevated its swimming & diving program to the varsity level in 1978 and, in 25 seasons, has risen to the top of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The largest conference in the country, the ECAC includes 80 Division I members. Coach VanWagner's men's squad has captured 10 conference championships including the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title in the school's first eight years of competition in the league. In addition, the Red Foxes have had 41 individual Metropolitan Conference Champions and 75 individual MAAC Champions.

During his undergraduate studies at Springfield College, where he graduated with a B.S. and a M.P.E. in physical education and athletic administration, VanWagner swam under the legendary Charles "Red" Silvia. While a member of the varsity team, VanWagner captained the Chiefs to a New England Championship while earning All-American honors in 1974.

Dedicated to the teaching and promotion of the sport of swimming, VanWagner also serves as the Director and Head Coach of the Marist Swim Club, a USS program which has achieved national recognition and placed dozens of high school graduates into Division I universities. In its 26-year history, the program has produced numerous champions including: 11 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers, six world-ranked swimmers, six Junior National Champions and over 148 Metropolitan JO Champions.

VanWagner's most current protege, Corey Berg, of Hyde Park, has emerged as a U.S. National top eight finalist, U.S. Junior National Champion and a U.S. National Junior Team Member. For his outstanding coaching achievements, VanWagner received the Certificate of Excellence in 2001 and 2002 from the American Swim Coaches Association.

A Hyde Park, NY native, VanWagner presently resides in Hopewell Junction, NY, with his wife, Ginny, and their three sons John (21), Ryan (20) and Andrew (16).