Hall of Fame
The Bentley swimming and diving program was in its infancy when Mary Kay Samko arrived on campus three decades ago.
The first woman inducted into the Boston College Hall of Fame following a standout swimming career for the Eagles, Mary Kay came to Bentley in 1996 following time as head coach at Tufts, Southern Connecticut and the University of the South.
As Bentley’s Director of Aquatics and head coach, Mary Kay built a program that is a regional Division II power. She won over 500 dual meets with the Falcons, pushing her career win total to 600, and her teams were always among the contenders in the Northeast-10. Her student-athletes won numerous All-America and Academic All-America awards and captured over 100 Northeast 10 individual and relay gold medals.
Her teams claimed four Northeast 10 men’s championships and 15 New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association titles. There have also been a total of 20 second-place team finishes in the NE10.
When Mary Kay’s retirement was announced in February 2025, former Bentley All-America and assistant coach Anne Kaduboski said “Mary Kay's name is synonymous with Bentley's swim and dive program. Her records speak for themselves, but the success of the program is a testament to her leadership and dedication. What truly sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to mentoring athletes, both in the pool and in life, leaving a lasting impact on their lives and the program's legacy.”
