By James Windell
When Maryanne Ruby received a standing ovation from colleagues, family and students at the South Haven Area Recreational Authority (SHARA) meeting recently, it was in recognition of her more than 25 years as a swim coach.
But the occasion was the presentation of a proclamation signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and state legislators acknowledging her dedication and commitment to South Haven students and the community for her years as a swimming coach.
Ruby, who recently retired from her volunteer duties as a swimming coach, was honored during the SHARA meeting on August 19, 2025.
“I’m grateful beyond all measure for the opportunity that this community gave me,” Ruby said after being presented with the proclamation.
The proclamation stated that “Coach Ruby has dedicated her time for the development, growth and success as coach of the South Haven Sea Dragons Swimming Club, which later became known as the Ram’s Aquatic Club. Through her unwavering commitment, Coach Ruby has coached hundreds of South Haven’s young students teaching them to swim, not only helping them develop technical skills, but also in building confidence, discipline and a love for the sport.”
Ruby’s career was in the medical field, running a medical office and then managing billing for a hospital. Becoming a swimming coach was not something she ever considered. But according to her daughter, Julie Bell, she got into coaching because her children wanted to swim. “She had four kids and six nieces and nephews, so coaching was a way for her to teach and help out, while being involved in her kid’s sports,” Bell said in a recent interview.
What did her mother know about coaching?
“She had no experience whatsoever,” Bell said. “She wanted to become a coach to help. She started going to coaching clinics to educate herself, then she mentored under a coach by the name of Doug Thorne, who is well known in Michigan.”
Thorne was a prominent swim coach who became known for his leadership in Grand Haven’s swimming and diving programs. His coaching philosophy emphasized teamwork and dedication. Because of the mentoring and training she received, Ruby ran the South Haven Sea Dragons, which later became Ram’s Aquatic Club, which Bell said she ran as head coach for about 15 years.
After coaching for the Ram’s Aquatic Club, Bell said her mother became assistant coach for South Haven High School’s varsity swim teams for both boys and girls. After several years, Bell said, “She retired when all of her kids graduated.”
However, she wasn’t done coaching. “About 10 years ago,” Bell said, “she stepped in when the head coach for the Ram’s Aquatic Club team retired. She stayed the second time for a decade.”
Bell, who is a Varsity Swim Coach at South Haven High School, said that she learned about coaching from her mother. “She loved coaching,” she said. “I think she would still be coaching if she didn’t have so many other things on her plate these days. But I think her plans are to continue; maybe helping out with the middle school program.”
In accepting the proclamation, Ruby remarked that she wanted her students to give back to the community. “My students,” she said, “are lifeguards, involved in marine patrol, and they go on to serve wherever they may be – even in the military. I’m so pleased to know that this is a program that is so important to a waterfront community. We want to keep people safe here.”
Her daughter said that Ruby thought water safety was very important. “All of her kids and her nieces and nephews were all certified lifeguards,” Bell said, “and we all worked on the beaches in South Haven when we had a lifeguard program.”
Bell said that her mother was much more than a swim coach, especially to her own children. “She played a big part in my swim career because even when I swam in college, she came to every swim meet,” Bell said emotionally. “She was always there.”
Then she added: “I’m glad she got this recognition because she put in a lot of selfless hours. When we were kids, she worked a forty-hour week in an office and then came here and dedicated three hours a night when she could have been at home. She deserves this recognition.”
