Simpson ’86's Culture Is Reason for Success at Villanova Swimming and Diving

When he started swimming at age eight, Rick Simpson ’86 never envisioned himself getting into coaching, even though he had a high-level career at the Prep and Rutgers University. But Simpson is now one of the most successful coaches in college swimming, with his Villanova Wildcats winning the Big East Championship 10 years in a row. He and his staff have won Big East Coaching Staff of the Year honors all 10 of those years.

“Like most coaches, I didn’t have a linear path into coaching,” Simpson says. “Most of us have a unique path. I don’t think anyone goes through four years of college thinking ‘my goal is to be a collegiate swim coach.’”

 

After graduating from Rutgers with a degree in environmental and land use planning, Simpson was ready to become the next big real estate developer. He had completed a nine-credit co-op with an architect and planning firm in Center City and he felt that he had found his true calling. Graduating during a real estate recession, however, put this plan on hold. Given the weak job market, Simpson accepted an offer from his college swim coach to fill an assistant coach vacancy. 

“My industry was dead, so I decided to tread water for a year, literally,” Simspon recalls with a laugh. He kept tabs on the job market, waiting for it to bounce back. In the meantime, his one year of coaching became three and Simpson was offered a full-time coaching position at the United States Military Academy. “It was then I realized: I’m a real, full-time employee with benefits coaching swimming – I’m not going back,” he says. 

Simpson spent time coaching at West Point and Seton Hall before becoming the head coach at Villanova University, where he recently completed his 23rd season. While humble, he appreciates the recognition that he and the staff have been given over the past decade. 

“The award is flattering and humbling because it’s a decision made by colleagues and people within the conference,” he says. “At the end of the day though, we get this award, but it really comes down to the athletes. I tell my team ‘you do all the hard work; you make it happen; you win a championship; and then they give us [coaches] an award and make us sound like geniuses – which we’re not. So I’m very humbled, but it’s a product of the athletes’ work.”

 

Building a successful program is no easy feat, and sustaining success year after year at a high level is even more challenging. The Villanova swim program has been able to do it largely thanks to its culture. Simpson points to the character of his student-athletes, which have included Prep alumni Murphy Smith ’12 and Patrick Casey ’22, as the foundation. “I learned over 23 years not to overlook the importance of character and culture – very similar to the Prep – in the recruiting vetting process,” he says. “At first, I thought I could take a great athlete and shape their character; I learned the hard way that I was not going to change the attitude of an 18-year old athlete as easily as I thought. So I pivoted to focus on character first. If athlete A is a little faster than athlete B, but has poor character, I’m taking athlete B. I can teach athlete B to be a faster swimmer more easily than I can teach athlete A to be a better person.” Simpson has found this focus on character to be infectious amongst his swimmers, who take pride and ownership in ensuring the culture remains intact. 

Like most coaches, Simpson finds a real sense of fulfillment working with his student-athletes. “The relationships are the most rewarding part,” he says. “Watching a student-athlete – especially those who are struggling with maturing, academics, discipline, or swimming itself – develop, and working with them throughout their careers to see a finished product four years later is pretty amazing.”

Simpson considers himself extremely lucky to be in the position he is. “I don’t see what I do as a job or profession,” he says, “it’s a lifestyle. I don’t wake up in the morning to go to work; I wake up to go to campus. Even in season, spending 60-plus hours a week and long hours of travel, I never feel stuck at work. It’s just something we love to do.”

Lastly, Simpson offers his advice to current Prep students to strive for the magis. “No matter your academic or spiritual experience at the Prep, be the best that you can be in whatever you do,” he says. “For me as a coach, I have to ask how I am best going to mentor my swimmers and win championships. Not everyone is going to be a doctor or a lawyer, but never lose sight of the Prep mentality to be the best that you can be in all endeavors.”