EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette swimming and diving head coach Jim Dailey will retire prior to the start of 2026-27 season after 32 seasons at the helm of the Leopard program. 

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity that Lafayette gave me," Dailey said. "Lafayette Swimming and Diving has been unique in so many ways. This has been the best job in the world. It kept me young, involved and optimistic. It taught me so much about people and relationships between them. I've received so much from all of the alumni, student-athletes and their families over the years and hopefully, I was able to give something back. To say Lafayette has provided me a lot is an understatement. I'm very appreciative of the experience and time it allowed me to grow."    

Dailey first arrived at Lafayette in 1991 as an assistant coach, a position he held until 1993. Ahead of the 1993-94 season, he was named the interim head coach before being named the 12th head coach in the program's history. Under Dailey's tutelage, the Leopards collected 29 individual Patriot League titles while adding 23 men and 20 women to the All-Patriot League squad. 

"Jim has been a loyal and dedicated leader of young men and women for more than three decades on College Hill," said Lafayette Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman. "Beyond his remarkable longevity, Jim has been a trusted leader and mentor among our coaching staff, setting a standard of professionalism, integrity, and excellence. He has helped attract some of Lafayette's brightest scholar-athletes and has been a driving force in fostering a culture of achievement within our swimming and diving program. His impact extends far beyond wins and losses, as he has helped shape the lives and competitive careers of more than 600 student-athletes during his time at Lafayette. We are deeply grateful for his unwavering commitment to our department and wish him all the best in his next chapter. "

Over his three decades, Dailey has produced a number of swimmers that have gone on to reach significant milestones. In 1992, Andrew Rutherford was named an NCAA Division I All American prior to appearing at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona for Hong Kong. Javier Fente, a Maroon Club Hall of Famer and one of two Pepper Prize Recipients under Dailey, was named the 1995 Patriot League Swimmer of the Meet.  

During his time in Easton, the swimming and diving program has stood on the pillars of academic excellence, outstanding athletic accomplishments, community service and leadership development. Dailey's squads have rewritten the record books at Lafayette, with every school record coming during his tenure. Under Dailey's guidance, the Lafayette swimming and diving program has produced two NCAA Women of the Year nominees (Kristen Tyler '10 and Reeve Lanigan '19) and two NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients.

Mike Rinde, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the program, has assumed the role of interim head coach.