At a luncheon, coaches, officials, friends, and family – including his wife Melanie – shared stories about Urbanchek as a coach and a person.

The Fullerton Aquatics Sports Team (FAST) hosted its second annual Jon Urbanchek Invitational, where three Olympians competed in preparation for Paris. Urbanchek co-founded FAST in 1964 and was a legendary and beloved swim coach. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2009. After coaching for 20 years at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, he returned to Fullerton in 2010. Sadly, he passed away in May. Throughout his career, he coached more than three dozen Olympians.

The recent swimming meet in mid-June at the Janet Evans Swim Complex in Independence Park was a testament to the incredible talent and sportsmanship within the Fullerton community and beyond. The victories of Paris Olympians Tomer Frankel of Israel, Rafael Miroslaw of Germany, and Marwan Elkamash of Egypt, in their respective events, were personal triumphs and a source of pride for all of us. Their dedication, hard work, and perseverance testify to the power of pursuing one’s dreams.

Moreover, the presence of esteemed Olympian Janet Evans, who generously presented awards at the meet, added an extra layer of inspiration. Her impact on the sport and the athletes is truly remarkable.

The success of the Jon Urbanchek Invitational was not just about the athletes but the entire community. The impressive participation of nearly 200 athletes from diverse teams and the breaking of 15 meet records and six pool records is a testament to the extraordinary skill and determination within the swimming community. This event serves as a reminder that with passion, dedication, and hard work, athletes can achieve greatness, and the community’s support and participation make these achievements possible.

Let’s take inspiration from this event’s remarkable achievements and continue striving for excellence in all our endeavors!

Everyone took a moment to remember Urbanchek’s impact on the community. His dedication to coaching and mentoring shaped the lives of numerous athletes and inspired others to give their best. It’s incredible to see how many people from Southern California were influenced by him and continue to carry on his legacy. The stories shared at the luncheon highlighted his positive influence as a coach and person. It reminds us of the lasting impact we can have on others through our actions and connections.

Jon Urbanchek

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More About Jon Urbanchek

After graduating from college, Urbanchek’s first job was as a health teacher and aquatics coach at Garden Grove High School in Southern California in 1963−64. In the fall of 1964, he started teaching at Anaheim High School, where he coached highly successful water polo and swimming teams. Highlights at AHS included a third-place finish in CIF water polo in 1969 and a CIF team final appearance in boys swimming in 1970. Also in 1964, Urbanchek co-founded the Fullerton Aquatics Sports Team (FAST) in Fullerton, California.  In 1973, he earned a master’s degree in education from Chapman University.

Urbanchek left Anaheim High School in 1978 to become the head coach at Long Beach State, where he coached the 49ers swim program for five years. He was named Pacific Coast Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1981. He also coached internationally for the first time, guiding the United States to a second-place finish behind his native Hungary at the 1979 FINA Men’s Water Polo World Cup.

Urbanchek became the head coach at the University of Michigan in 1982, his alma mater. He was responsible for the renaissance of the men’s swimming program. Within four years, they had won the Big Ten Championship and then continued to win another 9 in a row, establishing a “Decade of Dominance” for the program (1986-1996). During that time, his team also won the NCAA Championship. In total, Urbanchek’s Michigan teams won 13 Big Ten Championships. After retiring from the head coach position, Urbanchek continued to coach for several years with the school’s affiliate club team, Club Wolverine, and to assist the men’s team.

Urbanchek returned to Southern California in 2010 to direct the U.S. Olympic Post-Graduate Training Center at Fullerton Aquatics Sports Team (FAST). He coached two swimmers to gold medals at the 2012 Olympics (Tyler Clary and Matt McLean) and served as special assistant coach for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team. For the next ten years, Jon worked with athletes and coaches nationwide, leading and assisting with training camps at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and volunteering on decks throughout Southern California, doing what he loved.