Former Virginia Swim Coach Ralph Law Passes Away

Nov. 9, 2017

Charlottesville, Va. – Former Virginia head swim coach Ralph Law has passed away. He was 83 years old. Law directed the UVA program from 1962-1969, producing a 45-28 dual-meet record. Law also helped to coach the UVA freshman baseball team and the track and field team during his tenure at Virginia. He replaced Gene Corrigan as the school’s sports information director in 1967.

A Norfolk, Va., native who attended Granby High School, Law came to Virginia after a highly-successful high school, club and AAU level coaching career. In addition to his work at the University, he was instrumental in developing and growing the Charlottesville area’s local swimming programs.

He was named the Fry’s Spring Beach Club head swim coach in 1963 and after a year went on to manage the Fairview Swim Club where he won championships from 1965 to 1970. He started the Piedmont Swim League, the area’s first swim organization, which became the Jefferson Swim League in 1966.

Law played a part in the early history of female athletes at the University when he allowed Mary Brundage, a nursing school student, to compete with the men’s swim team. She lettered in 1966, the first female to do so in the sport at UVA.

Law left UVA in 1969 to accept a position with the Charlottesville School System. He worked in a variety of roles with the Virginia High School League for more than 40 years.