Michigan State University Athletics
Former Diving Mentor John Narcy Passes Away
2/24/2023 10:57:00 AM | General
East Lansing, Mich. -- John Narcy, who spent 36 seasons as Michigan State's diving coach, recently passed away at his home in Florida. He was 87. John Narcy Obituary
Narcy, a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year in 1990, was one of the most experienced and respected diving coaches in the country. He spent 36 years on the Spartan pool deck, retiring at the conclusion of the 2002 season. In his tenure at MSU, his divers earned All-America honors on 50 occasions, and he coached an AIAW Champion, an NCAA Champion, six Big Ten Champions and three U.S. Olympians. He helped develop former Spartan Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse, a four-time Big Ten titleist, two-time NCAA champion, and six-time All-American who represented the United States in the 1992 Olympic Games, finishing in fifth place. He also coached Big Ten champions Jane Manchester, who won two AIAW crowns, as well as 1980 Olympians Kevin Machemer and Dave Burgering and four-time All-American Mike Brown. In the summer of 2001, he received the Fred A. Cady Award for lifetime achievement.
As an undergraduate, Narcy was a letterman at Michigan where he was a two-time All American, served as the captain of the 1957 NCAA Championship Team (and placed third in 1955). He was the recipient of the Yost Honor Award, awarded to students who "were outstanding for their moral character and good fellowship, scholastic ability, intellectual capacity and achievement, physical ability and vigor and who showed real capacity and promise of leadership and success." He earned his master's degree from Michigan State.
Friday, December 05
Monday, September 15
Monday, September 15
Monday, September 15