TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona Swimming and Diving program and head coach Augie Busch have announced the addition of former University of Pacific head coach Peter Richardson to the UA staff.

"I am extremely excited Peter is joining our staff here at Arizona," said Busch. "He will bring incredible energy and passion to our program. His experience as a head coach will be a huge asset to me and the others on staff, and his tremendous recruiting ability is sure to be as well. His vision for a team-first culture aligns with mine and his personality is one that will rub off very positively on the team and coaches."

Richardson comes to Arizona after eight seasons as the head swimming and diving coach at Pacific, where he took the program to unprecedented heights. Under Richardson, Pacific became a consistent contender in the MSPF Conference and sent athletes to the NCAA Championships in five straight seasons; in 2018 Pacific was one of just two men's and/or women's programs to achieve an "A" relay cut without a full allotment of scholarships.

In Richardson's eight-year tenure, an astonishing 73 school records were established, including 12 in 2019.

"I would like to thank Coach Augie Busch for the opportunity to join the Wildcat Swimming and Diving family," said Richardson. "Augie won National Championships as an assistant at Arizona and he took Virginia to consecutive top 5 finishes – I believe in what he is building in Tucson. Since 2000, Arizona is one of five programs who have won national championships; the winning tradition and positive momentum are why I am here today. Bear Down!"

Prior to spending eight seasons at his alma mater, Pacific, Richardson was the first ever head swimming coach at Fresno Pacific University, where he took the program from its inception and 2007 and turned into a perennial NAIA power in his five seasons at FPU. Richardson led the men's team to back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 2010 and 2011 and the women's team to a NAIA National Championship in 2012. In his five seasons, the men's teams at FPU finished sixth, second, first, first and second while the women's teams finished fifth, fourth, third, second and first.

Richardson swam collegiately at Pacific, where he helped lead the Tigers to back-to-back Big West Championships as a team captain during his junior and senior seasons.