July 15, 2008
(release courtesy of Matt Turk, Simpson College sports information director)

INDIANOLA, IOWA . . . Former Simpson swimming coach Mark Wagner passed away after a long battle with cancer Saturday July 12 at his home in Dallas Center, Iowa. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

Wagner coached the Storm from 2006-08. He came to Simpson from West Des Moines Valley High School where from 1967-1986 he served as the head boys and girls swimming coach. After taking a four-year break, Wagner returned to the Tigers' program in 1990 and again served as the head boys and girls swimming coach until 2003. He was the boys swim coach at Valley from 2003-2006.

During his 35-year career on the prep level, Wagner led Valley to three state championships (girls in 1974 and 1975; boys in 1984). He was selected Iowa State Coach of the Year five times (1971, 1973, 1975, 1984, and 2000) and coached 24 individual and relay state champions. His Valley boys and girls teams earned more state runner-up placings than any other team on the high school level.

A member of the Iowa High School Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame, Wagner saw one of his former swimmers, Craig Oppel, earn an Olympic Gold Medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic games (4x200m relay). Oppel set a national high school record in the 200 yard freestyle in 1985 that stood for six years. Wagner also served as the Swimming Director for the Iowa Special Olympics from 1974-1994.

For more coverage on Coach Wagner please click on the following Des Moines Register article which appeared in the Tuesday, July 15 edition of the newspaper;

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/SPORTS08/80714037

The Wagner family has set up a website for further information

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/markwagner1

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