Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics
Swim And Dive Adds Michael Retcher, Ryan Collins To Staff
August 19, 2022 | Women's Swimming & Diving
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Swim and Dive head coach Rickey Perkins has announced the addition of assistant coaches Michael Retcher and Ryan Collins to his staff. Retcher will serve as the diving coach while Collins will be the assistant swimming coach.
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A native of Northwest Ohio, Michael Retcher joins the Falcons after spending 13 seasons as the Head Diving Coach at Napoleon High School and the Napoleon Diving Club. In his time at NHS, 43 student-athletes qualified for the OHSAA State Diving Championships, with 17 placing in the top 10. His most successful season was the most recent one, as the Wildcats saw divers place 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 24th at the 2021-22 state meet. In the last eight seasons, Retcher has guided eight divers to NCAA Division I programs. In the last five years, the Napoleon Diving Club has sent 27 divers to AAU Nationals, with 12 finishing in the top 12.
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"I am so thankful to be a part of such an excellent institution. BGSU has a long tradition of success in academics and athletics. I hope to continue to build on that success by bringing in student athletes that will excel in the pool and in the classroom," said Retcher. "I want to thank our head coach, Rickey Perkins, and Director of Athletics and Recreation Bob Moosbrugger for allowing me to be a part of this program. I will work hard to represent the Falcons positively in everything I do!"
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Retcher also served as the Ohio Diving League President and Napoleon High School Assistant Athletic Director. He has experience as an AAU National Event Coordinator, running three national qualifying events and overseeing yearly national meets. Retcher was the Head Coach of the BGSU Club Water Polo team in 2021-22 and has been an assistant coach for the Napoleon Water Polo team since 2009. He was selected by USA Diving to be the meet director for the 2022 USA Senior Winter Nationals Meet in December and was recently named Vice President of Membership of the Professional Diving Coaches Association.
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Retcher is a 2009 graduate of Napoleon High School and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Western Governors University. He is certified as a USA Diving Competition Coach, AAU Diving Youth Coach, and lifeguard instructor. He has spent the previous seven summers as the Assistant Waterfront Director and Kitchen Manager for Camp Walden, located in Cheboygan, Michigan.
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A native of Northeast Ohio, Ryan Collins comes to Bowling Green after spending the 2021-2022 season with Youngstown State. He was responsible for leading their sprint group, ranging from their top-end sprinters through training for all 200-yard events. He guided YSU student-athletes to nine school records, 60 lifetime PR's, and 106 school top-10 times. Their top individual performer was freshman Aleksa Radenovic, who earned his NCAA B-cut in the 200 butterfly.
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"I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to join Head Coach Rickey Perkins, the entire staff, and team here at Bowling Green!" said Collins. "This is a special place that I'm very fortunate to be a part of going forward. Throughout the process it became clear of the hard work Rickey and the team have put in over the past few years, as well as his clear vision and expectations of excellence for our future. I wouldn't have been able to make it here if it weren't for all our great men & women on our team at YSU, their Athletic Director Ron Strollo, Brent Noble at UIndy, and Beverly Poletta, Mike Lazor, and Matt Ziders at Green and Jackson who all gave me my start in coaching and have continued to be great mentors and friends. Talons Up!"
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Prior to Youngstown State, Collins spent the 2020-2021 season volunteering with the University of Indianapolis. That season, the men's and women's teams each finished third at the NCAA DII Championships, with their women bringing home national titles in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. He worked primarily with their sprint group and closely with former UIndy Associate Head Coach and current Head Coach Brent Noble. He also spent one season as a graduate assistant at Mount Union, helping the Purple Raiders to a second-place finish in the OAC.
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Collins started his coaching career at the club and high school level, spending 3 years with Jackson High School in Stark County, where they sent 13 student-athletes to the NCAA level. He has spent time with the Green YMCA Barracudas/USA club team, including the 2022 summer where he led their Senior Women's and Advanced Junior group. There he planned, implemented, and led a strength & conditioning program for their high school athletes. Collins is a 2017 graduate of Kent State, earning his bachelor's degree in 7-12 Mathematics and Education with a minor in Mathematics. He earned his Masters in Educational Leadership & Athletic Coaching through Mount Union in 2021. Collins is also an Eagle Scout.
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Quote from Coach Perkins
"Michael has an impressive resume and will bring a wealth of experience to the program. I talked to references from all over the country about how strong of a person and coach Michael is. Ryan played a huge role in helping the University of Indianapolis to a third-place finish at the 2021 DII Nationals Championships. He also helped Youngtown State to numerous team records and its best conference finish in 2022. I am excited to see what these new coaches will bring to the program."
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Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons swimming and diving team throughout the season on social media.
Twitter – @BGAthletics and @FalconSwimDive
Instagram – 'bgfalcons' and 'FalconSwimDive'
Facebook – 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube – 'Falcon Athletics'
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A native of Northwest Ohio, Michael Retcher joins the Falcons after spending 13 seasons as the Head Diving Coach at Napoleon High School and the Napoleon Diving Club. In his time at NHS, 43 student-athletes qualified for the OHSAA State Diving Championships, with 17 placing in the top 10. His most successful season was the most recent one, as the Wildcats saw divers place 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 24th at the 2021-22 state meet. In the last eight seasons, Retcher has guided eight divers to NCAA Division I programs. In the last five years, the Napoleon Diving Club has sent 27 divers to AAU Nationals, with 12 finishing in the top 12.
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"I am so thankful to be a part of such an excellent institution. BGSU has a long tradition of success in academics and athletics. I hope to continue to build on that success by bringing in student athletes that will excel in the pool and in the classroom," said Retcher. "I want to thank our head coach, Rickey Perkins, and Director of Athletics and Recreation Bob Moosbrugger for allowing me to be a part of this program. I will work hard to represent the Falcons positively in everything I do!"
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Retcher also served as the Ohio Diving League President and Napoleon High School Assistant Athletic Director. He has experience as an AAU National Event Coordinator, running three national qualifying events and overseeing yearly national meets. Retcher was the Head Coach of the BGSU Club Water Polo team in 2021-22 and has been an assistant coach for the Napoleon Water Polo team since 2009. He was selected by USA Diving to be the meet director for the 2022 USA Senior Winter Nationals Meet in December and was recently named Vice President of Membership of the Professional Diving Coaches Association.
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Retcher is a 2009 graduate of Napoleon High School and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Western Governors University. He is certified as a USA Diving Competition Coach, AAU Diving Youth Coach, and lifeguard instructor. He has spent the previous seven summers as the Assistant Waterfront Director and Kitchen Manager for Camp Walden, located in Cheboygan, Michigan.
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A native of Northeast Ohio, Ryan Collins comes to Bowling Green after spending the 2021-2022 season with Youngstown State. He was responsible for leading their sprint group, ranging from their top-end sprinters through training for all 200-yard events. He guided YSU student-athletes to nine school records, 60 lifetime PR's, and 106 school top-10 times. Their top individual performer was freshman Aleksa Radenovic, who earned his NCAA B-cut in the 200 butterfly.
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"I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to join Head Coach Rickey Perkins, the entire staff, and team here at Bowling Green!" said Collins. "This is a special place that I'm very fortunate to be a part of going forward. Throughout the process it became clear of the hard work Rickey and the team have put in over the past few years, as well as his clear vision and expectations of excellence for our future. I wouldn't have been able to make it here if it weren't for all our great men & women on our team at YSU, their Athletic Director Ron Strollo, Brent Noble at UIndy, and Beverly Poletta, Mike Lazor, and Matt Ziders at Green and Jackson who all gave me my start in coaching and have continued to be great mentors and friends. Talons Up!"
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Prior to Youngstown State, Collins spent the 2020-2021 season volunteering with the University of Indianapolis. That season, the men's and women's teams each finished third at the NCAA DII Championships, with their women bringing home national titles in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. He worked primarily with their sprint group and closely with former UIndy Associate Head Coach and current Head Coach Brent Noble. He also spent one season as a graduate assistant at Mount Union, helping the Purple Raiders to a second-place finish in the OAC.
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Collins started his coaching career at the club and high school level, spending 3 years with Jackson High School in Stark County, where they sent 13 student-athletes to the NCAA level. He has spent time with the Green YMCA Barracudas/USA club team, including the 2022 summer where he led their Senior Women's and Advanced Junior group. There he planned, implemented, and led a strength & conditioning program for their high school athletes. Collins is a 2017 graduate of Kent State, earning his bachelor's degree in 7-12 Mathematics and Education with a minor in Mathematics. He earned his Masters in Educational Leadership & Athletic Coaching through Mount Union in 2021. Collins is also an Eagle Scout.
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Quote from Coach Perkins
"Michael has an impressive resume and will bring a wealth of experience to the program. I talked to references from all over the country about how strong of a person and coach Michael is. Ryan played a huge role in helping the University of Indianapolis to a third-place finish at the 2021 DII Nationals Championships. He also helped Youngtown State to numerous team records and its best conference finish in 2022. I am excited to see what these new coaches will bring to the program."
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Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons swimming and diving team throughout the season on social media.
Twitter – @BGAthletics and @FalconSwimDive
Instagram – 'bgfalcons' and 'FalconSwimDive'
Facebook – 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube – 'Falcon Athletics'
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