GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University dedicated the Tony Lisa Natatorium on Saturday, Jan. 26 with a ceremony and reception in Esby Gym.    
 
The program included remarks by Rowan athletic director Dan Gilmore, Senior Vice President for Administration Bob Zazzali and President Ali A. Houshmand.  Connie Lisa, the wife of Tony Lisa, thanked and introduced Rowan Foundation Chair Jack Hafner.  Hafner donated $100,000 to honor Lisa's legacy.  The funds will be used to establish the Tony Lisa Endowment for the swimming and diving program.
 
A wealth management advisor and professional investor with J.P. Morgan, Hafner has been a member of the Foundation Board since 2012. He credits much of his positive student experience at Rowan to Tony's ability to instill a level of confidence in him that inspired him to lead a fulfilling, successful life.
 
Lisa, 69, passed away on June 16, 2018.  He retired from the University in 2014 after coaching the men's and women's swimming and diving teams for 35 years.  Lisa had two coaching stints with the Profs.  He returned to the University in 2009-2010 after two years as an assistant swim coach and recruiting coordinator at the U.S. Military Academy.  Prior, he had coached at Rowan for 30 years (1977-2007).
 
In 2003, Lisa received the Richard E. Steadman Award from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).  He was the 12th recipient of the award.  The Richard E. Steadman Award is conferred annually to a swimming or diving coach in high school, club or university ranks who, in the opinion of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. and the CSCAA Forum, has done the most to spread joy and happiness in swimming and diving.  Lisa was the assistant coach for the silver medal winning World All-Stars at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia.  He was also the assistant coach for the World All-Stars at the 2001 World Sprint Cup.

The women's team captured nine consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) titles from 1991 to 1999.  Lisa was named the NJAC Women's Coach of the Year four consecutive times from 1994 to 1997.  He was also selected Women's Coach of the Year at the 1998 Metropolitan Championships.

Lisa guided three athletes to NCAA Division III Championships, Teri Hatcher in the women's 100 breaststroke (1:06.07 in 1994, 1:05.85 in 1996), Craig Naylor in the men's 400 individual medley (4:01.52 in 1992) and Christie Raleigh in the women's 100 freestyle (49.94 in 2012).  The women recorded seventh place finishes at the NCAA Championships in 1995 and 1996, while the men were ninth in 1992 and 1996.  His teams were recognized annually on the Academic All-America squads.
 
Lisa was a past president of the CSCAA, which includes all swim teams from NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and junior colleges.  He served as the organization's president from 1998-2001.  Prior to the position, he was a member of the CSCAA board of directors.

Lisa is a member of the Gloucester County and Salem County Sports Hall of Fames.  He was the director of the TNT swim program at Rowan for over 30 years.  Numerous swimmers attended the sessions and continued their careers in high school and college.    
 
He graduated from Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, in 1975 and later received his master's in 1978.  Lisa was a goalkeeper on the Profs' soccer team for three years.  He was a 1966 graduate of Pennsville Memorial High School.