Rick Rowland

Biography

The architect behind all of California Baptist University’s success in aquatics, Rick Rowland started the swimming and water polo programs in 1999-2000 and is now entering his 21st season as head coach of both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. Rowland also led CBU men’s water polo team through its first 16 years of existence (1999-2015) and women's water polo through its first eight seasons (2000-2007). In swimming, both Rowland's men's and women's swim and dive teams have combined for nine NAIA National Championships over the course of his tenure with the men winning four (2006-09) and the women winning five (2005-08, 2011). Since transitioning to NCAA Division II in 2013-14, nine of Rowland's 10 squads have completed top-14 finishes in their division. The men accomplished the program's top finish in the NCAA as national runners-up in Division II in 2018. CBU has produced four individual NCAA champions, with three on the women's side. Buse Topcu won the 500-yard freestyle (4:47.14), Christie Halverson won the 1000 free (9:00.51.96) in 2016 and Mary Hanson won the school’s first individual NCAA champion in the 100 backstroke (52.45) in 2014. Scott Tolman won the first NCAA title for the men in the 200 breast (1:55.09). Rowland was named 2001 NAIA Coach of the Year as both teams placed second. He also earned women's Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and 2011, and was named Men's Coach of the Year in 2008. He was also named the College Swimming Coaches Association