During his time as head coach of the Villanova men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs, Rick Simpson has made his mark as not only a successful coach, but also has broadened the program’s recruiting horizons both nationwide and internationally. He is in his 26th year with the Wildcats in 2025-26.
Over the last decade, Simpson has seen the Villanova women’s swimming & diving team elevate to become one of the top BIG EAST programs thanks to an influx of both local and international talent. Each of his last four women's squads have logged the most team points ever scored at the conference meet, led by the 2024-25 team's 1,588 point showing. He and his staff have been tabbed the Coaching Staff of the Year in each of the last 12 years.
The Wildcats extended their current streak of women's BIG EAST titles to 12 straight in the 2024-25 campaign. They scored a program-best 1588 points to sit atop the standings with the men finishing in fourth. The Wildcats had 23 All-BIG EAST performers throughout the week with 14 on the women's side and nine on the men's.
The 2023-24 season saw the women score 1482.5 points for their 11th consecutive title while the men finished fourth. Audrey Pastorek and Nick Jubilee earned major award recogintion as the Most Outstand Women's Swimmer and Men's Diver of the Meet. The 'Cats had 20 All-BIG EAST performers at the meet, 12 on the women's side and eight for the men. By the end of the season, Villanova matched a program-high over the last decade for CSCAA Scholar All-Americans with six Wildcats all earning the honors.
The 10th consecutive BIG EAST title in the 2022-23 campaign was highlighted by 1,534 points with the men finishing fourth at the meet. The Blue and White had 16 competitors named to the All-BIG EAST team, including Most Outstanding Swimmer Audrey Pastorek who extended the team's run of receiving the accolade to 10 years in a row. Simpson and his staff were tabbed Co-Coaching Staff of the Year, marking the 10th consecutive year of receiving the honor.
Villanova's ninth consecutive title came in 2021-22 with a program-high total of 1,498 points while the men took third. Both Kelly Montesi and Michael Ackert repeated as the Most Outstanding Women's Swimmer and Most Outstanding Men's Diver, bringing their career totals to three and two, respectively, for the honors. Simpson's staff was recognized with their ninth-consecutive Women's Coaching Staff of the Year honor while Todd Michael was tabbed Men's Diving Coach of the Year for a fifth consecutive year, his sixth overall. After breaking the BIG EAST record for the 200 Back at the conference meet with a time of 1:53.25, Montesi went on to earn a spot in the NCAA Championships, becoming the first Wildcat to represent Villanova there since 2013. Competing in three events, she swam the fastest 100 back in BIG EAST history with a 52.45 at nationals. Villanova also sent Brenna McLaughlin, Francesca Raimondi, Perri Stahl and Cara Stapleton to the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championship following the regular season.
The Wildcats had a dominant 2020-21 campaign that saw the women's team win an eighth consecutive BIG EAST title with the men finishing second. Kelly Montesi won the second Most Outstanding Swimmer of her career while Michael Ackert was the Most Outstanding Diver. Simpson and his staff were tabbed the Women's Coaching Staff of the Year with Todd Michael earning Men's Diving Coach of the Year honors.
In 2020, Villanova was the top women's team in the BIG EAST, winning the championship for a seventh straight season while the men landed fourth. The group brought in four BIG EAST honors. Milly Routledge was lauded as the Most Outstanding Swimmer with Michael Perra taking the Most Outstanding Diver crown for a third straight year. Simpson and his staff earned Women's Coaching Staff of the Year status with Todd Michael being named the Men's Diving Coach of the Year.
During the 2019 season, the women's team captured their sixth straight BIG EAST Championship while the men took a fourth place finish. For the second year in a row the Wildcats brought home five BIG EAST awards. Kelly Montesi received Most Outstanding Swimmer, Bridie Dunn was named Most Outstanding Female Diver and Michael Perra brought home the same honor for the men's diving team. Simpson and his staff took home BIG EAST Women's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year and Todd Michael was named Men's Diving Coach of the Year for the second year running.
The women’s team won their fifth consecutive BIG EAST Championship in 2018 and the men placed second. The Wildcats brought home five BIG EAST awards. Darby Goodwin received Most Outstanding Swimmer for the third straight year and Michael Perra received Most Outstanding Diver. Simpson and his coaching staff were awarded with Women's Swimming Co-Coaching Staff of the Year and Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year. Todd Michael was also named Men's Diving Coach of the Year.
In 2016 the Wildcats won all but two events at the meet, breaking 13 records in the process. Between the women’s and men’s teams, 18 student-athletes earned All-BIG EAST honors.
Villanova’s women’s team repeated as BIG EAST Champions in 2015. The Wildcat women won 14 of 18 events, broke five program records, tied another, and Simpson won the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Coach of the Year while Kaisla Kollanus took home Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Year. Villanova also had 12 Wildcats named to the 2015 All-BIG EAST Team.
At the 2014 BIG EAST Championships, the women's program won 14 of 18 events to take the conference championship for the first time since 1996. In total, 18 Wildcats were named to the All-BIG EAST Team at the conclusion of the Championship, including 12 women and 6 men. Ben Smith (48.84) broke a 25-year-old record in the 100 butterfly which was previously held at 49.04. At the conclusion of the 2014 campaign, Simpson was named 2014 Big East Coach of the Year and Villanova Sophomore Fiona Hardie was named Co-Big East Swimmer of the Year.
One year prior, both programs collectively shattered 11 program records at the 2013 BIG EAST Championships. The women placed fourth at the event, and two Wildcats were chosen to compete in the NCAA Championships. Hayley Edwards won the 1650 freestyle title, breaking a Villanova record set by Olympic swimmer Maddy Crippin.
Edwards and Erin Malone were selected to represent the Wildcats at the NCAA Championships. Malone produced the first team point in nine years for Villanova, finishing 16th in the finals of the 200 breaststroke. Edwards broke the school record she had set the month prior at the BIG EAST Championships, registering a 2:09.45 in the 200 breaststroke.
The recent progress for the Wildcats was on full display when it counted most during the 2011-12 season when they secured a fifth-place finish at the BIG EAST Championships and in 2010-11 season, as Villanova surged to a fourth-place finish in the team standings at the conference meet. During the 2010-11 conference meet, the Wildcats set six school records and tallied seven All-BIG EAST performances in six different individual events.
The 2011-12 BIG EAST Championships proved to be another tribute to the Wildcats' success under Simpson. Edwards and Tammadge dominated the 1650 freestyle, as both girls finished in top-places, giving Villanova a second-place (Edwards) and third-place title (Tammadge) in the event. Edwards also finished third in the 200 butterfly and fourth in the 500 freestyle at the conference championships.
Edwards' success during the regular season and at the BIG EAST Championships qualified her to compete in three NCAA Championship races. In the relays, the 800 freestyle team consisting of Edwards, Elphick, Tammadge and Heider earned Villanova a second-place title at the conference meet.
Over the course of four days at the BIG EAST Championships in the 2010-11 season, Malone broke long-standing school records in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke, as well as the 200 individual medley. In addition Hayley Edwards repeated as the conference champion in the 1650 freestyle, giving Villanova a title in that event for the eighth time in the last 12 years.
The men's team also has gotten steady contributions from the 2010 recruiting class and has followed up that momentum with equally strong groups of newcomers over the past three years. The Villanova men placed eighth at the BIG EAST Championship, the best finish by the squad since 2000.
Of all the success that Simpson has had at Villanova perhaps his most noteworthy achievement has been the development of the Wildcats great tradition in the distance freestyle events. That tradition has continued most recently with Hayley Edwards winning three BIG EAST titles in the 1650 free, while Jenny Somerville (2003-07) previously won the event at the conference championships all four years of her career. Somerville also qualified for the NCAA Championships three times in the 1650 free and finished as high as 22nd at the national meet.
At least one Villanova distance swimmer qualified for the NCAA Championships in nine of Simpson's 23 years as head coach, while a Villanova swimmer has captured the BIG EAST title in the 1650 free 17 times in that span. Two different women have earned All-America honors under Simpson's guidance. Maddy Crippen was an eight-time All-American for the Wildcats and Becky Koch received All-America recognition on two occasions. Crippen competed in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia after her freshman season and her sophomore season was Simpson's first on the Main Line. Under his watchful eye Crippen earned All-America honors as a sophomore in the 400 IM, 500 free and 200 breast, while Koch was an All-American in the 500 free in 2003 and the 400 free one year later.
Simpson's success at international recruiting has brought in numerous talented swimmers from around the world. The women's team currently has one swimmer each from England, Germany, Finland and Israel.
Villanova swimmers have also gone on to international success during Simpson's tenure. Following the 2012-13 season, Simpson and Roxy Tammadge traveled to Kazan, Russia for the World University Games. Tammadge represented South Africa in the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 meter freestyle events while Simpson served as an assistant coach for South Africa.
Kristina Lennox, a 2007 graduate, competed for Puerto Rico in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China as well as the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy. During the 2009 meet she set a national record in the 200 meter freestyle, breaking a mark that had stood for 18 years while winning her preliminary heat.
Following the 2010-11 collegiate season Simpson accompanied team members Roxy Tammadge and Natalie Elphick to South Africa as they competed in the South Africa Nationals. Both were chosen to represent their home country in the World University Games in Shenzhen, China and Simpson served as a member of the South African coaching staff at those games in August, 2011. During the competition both Tammadge and Elphick swam legs of the 800 meter freestyle relay which set a new South African national record.
After the World University Games, Tammadge was selected to compete at the All-Africa Games in Mozambique where she won five medals, including individual gold in the 400 meter freestyle in addition to gold medals in the 4x100 and 4x200 meter freestyle relays.
Prior to being named the Villanova head coach, Simpson spent three years at Seton Hall as the head coach of both the men's and women's teams. During the 1999-00 season, he led the Pirates men's team to a .500 record in dual meets for the first time in program history. Simpson also coached Peter Economou to a BIG EAST title in the 100 butterfly in 2000, making him the first Pirate in seven years to win a league championship.
Simpson graduated from Rutgers in 1990 and spent three years as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater. During that stint, Simpson was an assistant coach in 1992 for Team Foxcatcher, where he assisted in the training of four Olympians while also coaching Team Foxcatcher at the 1992 National Championships in Mission Viejo, Calif.
Simpson received his first international coaching experience as a member of the USA coaching staff at the Second Military World Games in Zagreb, Croatia in 1999. The team he coached consisted of several current and former world record holders and Olympians.
In the fall of 1992 Simpson became an assistant coach for the United States Military Academy at West Point, where his primary responsibilities included serving as the recruiting coordinator and coach for all sprint and middle distance swimming events. After one year, he returned to Rutgers as a fulltime assistant coach and the Scarlet Knights recruiting coordinator, a position he held until being named the interim head coach in 1996.
During his time as head coach of the Seton Hall programs, Simpson served as the founder and executive director of Varsity Swim Camp, Inc., and as founder and head coach of the Seton Hall Aquatics Club. He is currently the director of Wildcat Swim Camp at Villanova, which offers a number of programs on campus each summer.
Simpson graduated from Rutgers in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Land Use Planning. He currently resides in West Chester, Pa., with his wife, Tara, and three daughters Madeline, Megan and Maeve.
