Peter Richardson Returns to Arizona as Associate Head Coach
Peter Richardson was hired late last week by Arizona as an associate head coach, returning to the program he was at from 2019-22 for new coach Ben Loorz.
Richardson guided the distance program over that time before heading across the Pac-12 to USC for two seasons. Among his pupils at Arizona were two-time Pac-12 mile champ Brooks Fail.
“I’d like to welcome coach Richardson back to the Wildcat family! His passion for the University of Arizona, and for the student-athletes, always shines through,” Loorz said in a team statement. “He’s a world-class recruiter and a high-integrity coach. I know the swimmers are going to love his energy and will immediately benefit from his vast experience and knowledge.”
At USC, Richardson helped the USC women’s team finish second at the final Pac-12 Championships in 2023-24 and eighth at NCAAs. He oversaw four Olympic A cut swimmers who will compete in the Paris Games.
Richardson was the head coach of Team USA at the World University Games in 2023, where the squad won seven medals.
In his first season at Arizona in 2019-20, Arizona finished second at Pac-12s, the best finish in program history. He was previously the head coach at University of the Pacific for seven seasons, returning to the school where he was a two-time Big West champion in the pool. He began his coaching career at Fresno Pacific University, leading the men’s team to NAIA Championships in 2010 and 2011 and the women to the crown in 2012.
“Coach Loorz does things the right way and we have always talked about teaming up. I could not be more excited to return to this special place,” Richardson said. “Arizona is one of only six men’s and seven women’s teams who have won an NCAA Team Championship since 2000 — this is a place we can win. Arizona has world-class facilities, world-class tradition, and we’re going to make sure to recruit and develop in that same fashion!”