Kevin Markwardt wrapped up his 41st season with Ithaca’s staff in 2021-22. He’s been the men's head coach for the past 35 years after six seasons as an assistant. With a career record of 392-88, he’s the program’s winningest coach. In the Summer of 2020, Markwardt was appointed the women's head coach after the announced retirement of hall of fame head coach Paula Miller, who guided the women's program for the past 36 years.
During the 2022-23 season Markwardt achieved his 400th career win as the head coach of the Bombers men's swimming & diving program after they defeated Le Moyne College 193-93.
Since joining the Liberty League during the 2017-18 season, Markwardt has helped produce seven individual champions for a total of 15 titles, as well as four relay titles.
At the 2020 Liberty League Championships, junior Stanley Zaneski was named Swimmer of the Year following three individual and three relay wins.
Markwardt earned back-to-back Empire 8 and UNYSCSA Coach of the Year honors after leading the Bombers to conference and state championships in 2011 and 2012. Markwardt was selected as E8 Coach of the Year again in 2014 after guiding Ithaca to a second place finish at the state meet.
In 2004, he received his first UNYSCSA Coach of the Year honor after the Bombers broke seven school records and earned their third state title in four seasons. Ithaca won its first UNYSCSA title in 2000-01 and repeated as state champions the following year. In 2004, Markwardt was named conference coach of the year after leading Ithaca to its third Empire 8 title.
The Bombers’ last 10 conference titles have come during his career, and they have finished in the top five in 28 of his 30 years at the UNYSCSA Championship. During his tenure, Markwardt has coached 40 student-athletes to 103 All-America honors.
Markwardt has been active with two of the state’s largest swimming organizations. He is the past president of the Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association and was closely involved with the Empire State Games (ESG). Markwardt was the swimming chairman for the central region of the ESG for 10 years and served as state chair four years.
Markwardt received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cortland, where he earned All-America honors in both swimming and track & field. He resides in Ithaca with his wife, Laurie, their sons, Kyle and Jakob, and daughter, Kayla.
1/5/23
