Wren reportedly quits UM swim job

University of Maine swim coach Jeff Wren, who has been involved with the men’s and women’s programs since their inception in 1971, has resigned his coaching positions, according to a source close to the program.

Wren did not confirm or deny the report.

In addition to his coaching duties, he also runs the Stanley Wallace Pool on the Orono campus and is a lecturer for the school’s College of Education. Those positions are not included in the resignation.

Wren has been the only head coach of the women’s program and had also been an assistant for the men’s team until 1979 when scheduling conflicts forced him to relinquish those duties.

However, he added the men’s coaching job in 1990 after Alan Switzer retired voluntarily to save the program. The men’s swim program had been targeted for elimination due to budget cuts at the university.

Wren, a Closter, N.J. native, guided this season’s women’s team to a fourth-place finish in the America East championships and ninth in the ECAC championships. The men were fifth in America East and 18th in the ECACs.

The 58-year-old Wren has guided his women’s teams to six New England championships and will retire with a dual-meet record of 170-117. His men’s teams went 35-93 in dual meets.

The 1971 graduate of William and Mary (Va.) has been loyal to the program.

He once swam 65 miles in the Penobscot River over four days to gain attention and financial support for the swim programs.