Bio

University of Bridgeport Director of Athletics Anthony Vitti has announced that Richard “Doc” Ludemann has been selected as the Purple Knights’ head men’s and women’s swimming coach and aquatics director.

Ludemann, who served as UB’s assistant coach for the 2016-17 season, brings a wealth of experience in coaching aquatic sports.

Stated Vitti, “We are extremely pleased to name “Doc” as our head men’s and women’s swimming coach.  His experience and knowledge plus his familiarity with our programs should prove to be a huge plus for our student-athletes who continue to make strides on the regional and national levels in the pool.”

The former head coach at Sacred Heart University of the women’s varsity team and the men’s club team from 2006-2012, he began his career in 1975 as the assistant coach of the Wilton YMCA swimming team, the Wilton Wahoos. After a four year stint in Wilton, Ludemann moved out west to become the assistant swimming coach at UCLA. In spending four years as a coach for the Bruins, he coached a team that was an NCAA Runner-up and seven swimmers who were part of the 1980 United States Olympic swimming team. In 1981, Ludemann returned to Connecticut and became an assistant coach for the Yale University men's and women's swimming teams. In that role he was the chief advisor to the Bulldogs group of sprinters and medley swimmers.

After three seasons at Yale, Ludemann moved on to the high school ranks as the head swimming coach at Stamford High School. Beginning in 1987 Ludemann took over as the head coach at the New Cannan Aquatic Club. In his nine years, he coached eight men's state champion teams and four women's teams who were state runner-ups. In addition to his swimming experience, Ludemann has been involved with the sports of water polo for the last 20 years. From 1988-92 he was the conditioning coach for the Canadian Water Polo squad. He then served as the training and condition coach for the United States water polo team from 1992-96.