Alma Mater: St. John's University '74 (BS); Columbia University '82 (MA)
Season as Head Coach: 32nd
Career Record: 193-118-1 (.620)
NCAA All-Americans: 29
NCAA Qualifiers: 37
Best NCAA Championships Performance: 9th (2008)
ECAC Championships: 2 (2004-06)
Coach of the Year Honors: UAA (2)
Veteran head coach Bob Sorensen has built his NYU swimming and diving program into an enduring Division III power. Having mentored 37 NCAA qualifiers and 30 All-Americans, he enters the 2011-12 campaign with a career record of 193-118-1 (.620).
Sorensen has had an NCAA qualifier in 10 of the last 11 years, as well as in 19 of the last 21 campaigns.
Last season, Sorensen’s squad went 4-3 in dual meets to improve its record to 44-10-1 over the last six seasons. The team added a second-place finish at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Invitational and placed sixth at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships.
Junior diver Max Norris earned Second Team All-UAA honors in the three-meter dive, while freshman Charlie Wu took Third Team accolades in the 200 backstroke.
Sorensen’s student-athletes were also cited for their exploits out of the water in ’10-11, with 12 garnering UAA Winter Sport All-Academic honors.
In 2009-10, Norris qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships and earned Honorable Mention All-American status. NYU went 7-4 during the dual-meet portion of its schedule and placed fifth at the UAA Championships, where Norris and Eric Pcholinski were named UAA Men’s Diver of the Year and Swimmer of the Year, respectively.
In 2008-09, four of Sorensen’s student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships. They combined for seven All-America accolades, helping the Violets finish 24th nationally.
NYU’s accomplishments in ’08-09 were built off the most successful season the program has ever enjoyed, as the 2007-08 squad finished an all-time best ninth at the NCAA’s, compiled a perfect 9-0 mark in dual meets, placed second at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships, and took third at the UAA Championships.
Eight of Sorensen’s swimmers qualified for the 2008 NCAA Championships, with each earning All-America honors. This included Andrew Lardiere’s second-place performance in the 100 freestyle – the best performance on a national stage by a NYU swimmer.
Sorensen’s peers have recognized his efforts, as he and his assistants have collected UAA Coaching Staff of the Year twice during his tenure (2006, 2008).
Sorensen began his coaching career at the Boy’s Club of Queens, and two years later became coach at Mater Christi High School, his alma mater. He also served as an assistant at the Flushing YMCA in addition to terms as president and vice president of the Metropolitan Collegiate Swimming Conference.
In addition to his coaching duties at NYU, Sorensen serves as the Natatorium Manager for the Palladium Athletic Facility. He instructs classes in swimming, lifeguard training, CPR, and First Aid.
A 1974 graduate of St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, Sorensen co-captained the Red Storm’s swim team and was a Metropolitan Conference champion in the 200-yard butterfly. He earned a Master of Arts degree in physical education at Teachers College of Columbia University in 1982.
A native of Astoria, NY, Sorensen and his family reside in Brooklyn, NY.
