Longtime Holy Cross swimming and diving coach retiring

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A 43-year era in Holy Cross athletics is coming to a close.

Longtime swimming and diving coach Barry Parenteau is retiring Friday.

Parenteau tells The Telegram & Gazette "it has been an honor, a privilege and a pleasure to coach some of the finest student-athletes in all of college athletics."

Parenteau was fresh out of Bridgewater State College in 1975 when he was hired as the part-time coach of the women's program at the Jesuit school in Worcester. He joined the staff full-time in 1983 as aquatics director of a newly opened swimming and diving facility. He took over the men's program in 1996 when his father, Paul, retired.