W&J’s Orstein passes 500 wins
Mike Orstein
Washington & Jefferson swimming coach Mike Orstein, right, talks to his team during a recent practice. Orstein won his 500th meet with a win at Pitt-Bradford.
Mike Orstein is known as the Iron Man of Washington & Jefferson College’s swimming program.
And it’s not just because he has had surgeries to replace two hips and one shoulder.
While he might have trouble getting through an airport metal detector, Orstein has had no trouble running up victories for the program. Orstein has spent 24 of his 30-year career at W&J and registered his 500th victory for the program at a Nov. 22 meet at Pitt-Bradford.
His current overall record is 507-210-3 and 447-185-2 at W&J.
“That’s a crazy number,” the 59-year-old Orstein said of his victory milestone. “It makes you reflect on your life and your career. It’s a big number considering it is not the amount of matches but the number of wins you have. You realize how blessed you are and how many lives you have touched. I have had a number of quality student-athletes and a lot of them still stay in touch. That’s priceless when you get a call from them, and it makes you realize that you made the right decision to become a coach.”
Orstein followed that route because his father, William Orstein, was involved in coaching and education in Lancaster, the family’s hometown. William Orstein served in a number of different coaching positions as well as being principal at the high school.
“He guided me into a lot of things,” said Orstein. “The one thing I gravitated to was swimming.”
Orstein was an All-State swimmer and an All-District III track and field athlete at from Manheim Township High School. He chose to continue his education and athletic careers at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. He was a four time All-American swimmer and graduated with a B.S. and M.Ed. in Physical Education.
Orstein began his coaching career as athletic director at York Country Day School. He became the head women’s coach at York College and turned the team into a power in NCAA Division III.
When he saw the opening at Washington & Jefferson, he jumped at the chance to coach there.
“It’s a great historic institution,” he said. “People are attracted by the academics. When recruiting, I try to sell myself as a coach. A lot of times, the tipping factor is a coach’s personality and philosophy.”
Orstein has brought a number of outstanding athletes to W&J, maybe no more successful than his daughter Kaitlyn, who won eight national championships and earned 14 NCAA All-America citations. Kaitlyn Orstein won 25 conference championships and was a four-time PAC Swimmer of the Year (2004-08).
Mike Orstein has coached 17 All-Americans, 33 Division III national qualifiers and 243 PAC Champions. He has produced nine PAC team champions.
“I’ve had a lot of gifted athletes over the years at W&J,” he said. “I couldn’t pick one or two out of that group (who stood out the most). I’ve been really fortunate to have so many.”
With a $60,000 grant from the NCAA, Orstein was able to start a water polo program at the school. He was head coach from 1999-2004, produced top 10 nationally ranked teams each season and was named Coach of the Year in the Southern Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association in 2002.
Orstein said he has no plans to retire.
“As long as the kids respond and are having fun, I’ll go on,” he said. “I’m enjoying what I’m doing and the kids are enjoying it.”