SMU’s Ryan Berube To Be Inducted Into Southwest Conference Hall Of Fame

Courtesy: SMU Athletics

WACO, Texas (SWC/SMU) – Former SMU standout swimmer Ryan Berube is set to be inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame announced on Thursday.

Berube is a member of a 10-person class for 2025. The group will be officially inducted on Tuesday, August 5th, at 11:30 a.m. at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Berube ranks as one of the most successful and accomplished swimmers to ever compete for SMU. He swam for the Mustangs from 1993-96, earning All-America honors each season in relay, backstroke and IM events. Berube also won six SWC Championships, claiming the 200 back three times, 100 back twice and the 200 IM one time.

During the 1996 NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, Berube claimed National Championships in the 100 back, 200 back and 200 IM. The three golds led to him being named NCAA Swimmer of the Year, one of two Mustangs to ever receive the honor.

His career culminated with an Olympic gold medal anchoring the American 800 free relay squad at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He had previously won gold medals at the 1993 World University Games and the 1995 Pan American Games.

The SWC Hall of Fame induction adds to Berube’s long list of honors, as he was previously named to the SMU Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Texas Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame in 2022.

After his competitive swimming career, Berube spent more than 20 years volunteering with USA Swimming. He also is involved with the Dallas Chapter of Swim Across America and helped lead fundraising efforts for the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center, SMU’s state of the art aquatics facility.

Berube held multiple SMU records for over 20 years, with all three falling in recent seasons. His 200 IM record was the first to fall, with Jack Easton taking it in 2021. During the 2024-25 season his son, Jack Berube, claimed his records in both the 100 back and 200 back.

With the induction, SMU will now boast 35 members of the SWC Hall of Fame. Berube represents the fourth member of the men’s swimming & diving program to be inducted, joining Alfred “Red” Barr, Jerry Heidenreich and George McMillion.

Southwest Conference Hall of Fame Class of 2025
U.S. Reed – Arkansas
Neal Jeffrey – Baylor
Jay Jeffrey – Baylor
Margaret Kitchen Redfearn – Houston
Wendy Wood – Rice
Ryan Berube – SMU
Kirk Dressendorfer – Texas
Jamie Dixon – TCU
John Thornton – Texas A&M
Lloyd Hill – Texas Tech