The water polo community in the American college circuit came into disbelief in 2018. No, it wasn’t about any result from any meet. Instead, it was about giving someone recognition while breaking the stereotypes. In 2018, McKendree University appointed someone in the head coach position in the men’s water polo program. Surprisingly, the coach had been given the responsibility of the women’s water polo program in the previous year, 2017. So two most vital positions in just two years! Such a meteoric rise made the community awestruck. Additionally, she became the first female coach of a men’s water polo program at the NCAA level. At 27, she made something that might stay as a milestone in NCAA’s history. 

Unfortunately, the individual, Colleen Lischwe, couldn’t prolong her magic. McKendree University had to lose the fairy whose magic wand had given so much honor to the institute. The water polo sports fans, meanwhile, felt heartbroken. 

The water polo Hall of Fame inductee bids goodbye to the mortal world 

On January 16, the X-handle of USA Water Polo posted the heartbreaking news. It claimed the sudden demise of Colleen Lischwe, the head coach of men’s and women’s water polo teams at McKendree University. Reportedly, on Wednesday (January 15), she came into the grip of a road accident which caused her death. However, Colleen’s impact was spread beyond McKendree University’s boundary. She was the Hall of Fame inductee in Missouri Water Polo and someone who had left her footmarks in the Olympic Development Program of USA Water Polo. Now, at 34, her untimely loss makes those places vacant. It will be hard to fill in the shoes of someone who lived every step from serving the assistant role to leading the charges of two different teams at the same time. Anthony Francis rightly explained the situation. 

The director of athletics at McKendree University worked for eight years with Colleen Lischwe. He knew her from those days when Lischwe joined the water polo program as a graduate assistant. The program had been taking its baby steps those days, in the inaugural year. Lischwe’s inclusion into the coaching staff made the program mature. Her outstanding leadership led to her being honored as the 2017 CWPA Midwest Division Coach of the Year in her inaugural season as head coach, mentoring the Bearcats to their first match in the Midwest Division Championship.

Under the late coach’s guidance, McKendree reached several significant milestones, including the program’s first-ever All-American accolades and a record-setting 2022 season. During that season, the women’s team achieved a 16-7 record—their first winning season in history. Colleen’s contributions to the men’s team were also groundbreaking. How? 

In her debut season as head coach, Colleen Lischwe directed the team to a 15-13 record and received the 2018 CWPA DII Championships Coach of the Year award. Under her tutelage, the men’s team competed in the MAWPC Championship Tournament, its first appearance in the contest. Her absence has now made the program parentless. While expressing the weight of the situation, Francis said, “It’s tough, you know, we’re trying to be strong.” Meanwhile, someone has set up a GoFundMe account to help the Lischwe family in this dark hour. The water polo fans haven’t let her contributions to the sport go unrecognized. On social media, they have paid tribute to the deceased coach. 

Fans and colleagues show their respect to Colleen Lischwe 

A female coach of a men’s water polo program- the fact once again headlined after Collin Lischwe’s death. On social media, the fans, students and their families came forward to pay tribute to such a coach who once made that incident real. One such fan claimed, “Gone too soon and NEVER forgotten. Thank you Colleen for being an amazing human and being such an important part of my son’s life.” The comment might have come from someone whose son played for McKendree University. It supports that the late St. Louis native had benefitted her mentees. But that was one of her fans. On Social media, her colleagues from different folds penned tributes for her. 

One such came from Jason Refjek, the football coach. Since 2018, he has been seeing the water polo coach in the McKendree community. But last Wednesday, everything stopped. The mortal sharing came to an end. As per him, the loss is huge. On X, his words echoed that sentiment only: “Extremely saddened by this lord to our Mckendree Community and the greater St. Louis area. Her Family will be in our thoughts and prayers as a family and Football Program.” The Missouri Water Polo Hall of Fame inductee’s loss would continue to hit the fans. Someone from her former colleague list also came forward with a tribute post. 

This time, it was Dr. Sam Caldwell-Conner. Currently, he is now at the Athletics Department of the University of Southern Indiana. But in the past, during his time at McKendree University, he shared the responsibility with Colleen Lischwe. On his X-post, those memories of working together came up. He wrote on X, “Colleen by far was one of my favorite coaches to work with during my time at MCK. My heart goes out to her and her family and especially her little kiddos.” Notably, Colleen is survived by her husband and daughter. In this dire state, the family needs that touch. Not just the coaches, but also the programs paid their respect to the deceased water polo coach. 

One such came from the UIndy Water Polo program. On X, the official handle posted, “We had the distinct privilege of competing with Coach Lischwe in the CWPA. She was always a gracious host, a complete professional, and a tremendous ambassador for Midwest water polo with an obvious love for the game. Her family is in our thoughts during this difficult time.” Her love for sports was beyond question. After all, this love led her to accept major responsibilities in the program and make herself suitable. The Water Polo Coaches put tribute meanwhile. The X-handle of the forum penned, “As a coaches’ association, we grieve the loss of a colleague, friend, and teammate in this game. Rest in peace, Coach Colleen Lischwe.” The phenomenal coach is on her last voyage now. With the community, we’d put in this hour, rest in peace.