Award-Winning Alumnus Supports Union Catholic With a Future Gift
Jim Wood’s impact on Union Catholic High School continues long after his passing.
Jim Wood graduated from Union Catholic Boys High School in 1968 but remained a constant name known throughout the halls of the school. He made a splash in the field of swimming and credited Union Catholic with his success.
Jim was recently inducted into the 2021 Union Catholic Hall of Fame in the category of athletics. He was an assistant coach at Johns Hopkins and then moved to North Carolina where he became the University of North Carolina’s men’s and women’s swimming head coach from 1975 to 1977.
In 1977, Jim returned to New Providence, New Jersey, to fulfill his dream of starting a competitive swim team, which is now known as Berkeley Aquatic Club (BAC). The swim school he founded taught more than 8,000 school-aged children how to swim and continues to teach children aquatic safety still today.
In 2012 it was reported that the BAC competitive swim team had won a total of 57 out of the last 64 state swimming championships. At least 30 BAC swimmers have held first place national rankings and have raced 38 times at U.S. Olympic Trials since 1980.
In 2004, Jim built his own aquatic complex by purchasing the 2004 USA Olympic Trials pool from Long Beach, California. The pools were to become the cornerstone for his vision, “The Center for Excellence.” But he switched directions and Jim’s dream facility finally opened in 2015 in New Providence, New Jersey.
He also served for 12 years as chairman of USA Swimming’s Time Standards Committee and as chairman of the USA Swimming Olympic International Operations Committee. He was also a member of the USA Swimming delegation.
In 2011, Jim was inducted to the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Hall of Fame, and in 2015 he was voted as one of the “30 Most Influential People in Swimming Over the Past 30 Years.” In 2019, Jim received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
That same year, Jim passed away at the age of 68. His support and love for Union Catholic, where this successful icon in the swimming industry got his start, continues yet today through his planned gift to his alma mater.
Like Jim, you can create a lasting legacy at Union Catholic by making a gift in your estate plan. Contact Dr. James T. Reagan, Jr. at (908) 889-1600 or jreagan@unioncatholic.org to learn more.
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