Dickmann retiring as Hilliard Darby coach

On Apr 13, 2022

Brian Dickmann is retiring as a high school swimming and diving coach after leading Darby for 23 years.

After almost 50 years in the sport, Hilliard Darby’s Brian Dickmann is retiring as a high school swimming and diving coach.

Dickmann spent 30 years as a coach at the prep level, including the last 23 at Darby. He was Bradley’s first coach, leading the Jaguars for seven seasons, and also led Davidson for six.

“I might still coach in the club ranks here and there, but as for being a high school head coach, I’m done,” said Dickmann, who will remain a physical science and astronomy teacher at Darby. “It’s been a long time; I’ve been in the sport 49 years. I began swimming as an age-grouper in the fall of 1973 and swam all the way through college (at Tennessee and Bowling Green).”

Before his time in Hilliard, Dickmann coached Pickerington for seven seasons.

“I began coaching when I started teaching. I just thought it was a good time to stop (coaching) and start doing other things,” he said. “I would like to spend a little more time on the Astronomy Club here at Darby High School and travel with my wife and family. Our family is very active. We like to ski, we like to travel and camp and you can’t really snow ski unless it’s during the winter.”

In 2014, the Panthers boys team captured the school district’s only league title, winning the OCC-Cardinal Division.

“I have no idea what my win-loss record was because it’s never really been about me,” Dickmann said. “I’ve never made it about me. It’s always been about the experience that the kids can get through the sport and becoming lifelong swimmers and divers.”