Bill Diaz
Bill Diaz (August 1, 1925–September 18, 2014) was a high school and college swim coach, best known for coaching the University of Miami men's team from July 1970 to 1984, and leading them to National Championships in 1974, 1977, and 1982. Diaz started the first women's swim team at Miami in 1973, and soon led them to AIAW National Championships in 1975 and 1976. A year after passage of Title IX barring gender-based discrimination at federally funded colleges, Diaz was highly instrumental in making Miami the first American University to provide swimming scholarships to women.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 1, 1925 New York, New York |
| Died | September 18, 2014 (aged 89) Palmetto Bay, Florida |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1953-1963 | Miami Jackson Senior High |
| 1964-1970 | Miami Springs Senior High |
| 1971-1984 | University of Miami Men's Team |
| 1973-84 | University of Miami Women's Team |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Miami Jackson Senior High (5 State Championships) Miami Springs Senior High (4 State Championships) University of Miami Men (National Championships '74, '77, '82) University of Miami Women (National Championships 1975, 1976) | |
| Awards | |
| 5 x Dade County High School Coach of the Year 1995 University of Miami Hall of Fame 2020 Florida Sports Hall of Fame | |
He was born August 1, 1925, in New York City, New York, and grew up around Spanish Harlem. Diaz flew twenty combat missions over Japan as a WWII gunner in a B-29 while serving in the Air Force.
A graduate of New York University majoring in education, Bill married his wife Martha in September 1948, and had three sons. He did not swim competitively during his early years.