Alumni Endow Swimming and Diving Coach Position

A father-son duo of former Harvard swimming and diving team captains has created a fund for the head coach position of the men’s swimming and diving team, establishing the 13th endowed coaching position at Harvard.

Charles “Charlie” J. Egan Jr. ’54 and his son Peter F. Egan ’86 announced the new Ulen-Brooks Endowed Coach post earlier this month.

The position was named in honor of the Egans’ swimming and diving coaches when they were at Harvard—Harold S. Ulen, who spent 27 seasons at the helm of the team, and his successor William J. Brooks.

The Egans are one of only two father-son pairs to serve as captains of the swimming and diving team during their Harvard careers.

In his four seasons with the Crimson, Charlie Egan earned both team-wide and intercollegiate recognition. He set a program record in the 150-yard IM, an event in which he later placed 23rd in the 1953 NCAA Championship. During his time at Harvard, Charlie Egan was also a was a member of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that placed third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League Championship.

Like his father, Peter Egan was a standout during his time with the Crimson. As a senior, Peter Egan was captain of the 1985-1986 squad, which won the EISL Championship and placed 16th overall in the NCAA Championship. That year, he earned All-American honors in the 200-yard butterfly.

Since leaving campus, the Egan family has remained involved in University affairs. Charlie Egan has served as a member of the Harvard College Fund Council, an honorary director of the Harvard Alumni Association board, and president of the Harvard Club of Kansas City.

“Charlie and the entire Egan family mean a great deal to the Harvard swimming community,” said Tim D. Murphy, the current head coach, in an Athletics Department press release.

Murphy, in his 14th season as head coach for the swimming and diving team, will be the first to hold the Ulen-Brooks coaching position.

Diving coach Keith Miller called the endowment an “incredible honor” for the team.

The newly endowed position is the latest in a string of honors and successes for the team under Murphy’s tutelage. Over the past 13 seasons, Murphy has led the team to six EISL Championships and an overall record of 107-9. In six of those seasons, Harvard emerged undefeated.

The endowment may help the team continue that success. The award will bring “great stability to the team for years to come,” assistant coach Kevin M. Tyrrell said.

Charlie and Peter Egan could not be reached for comment.