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NC State University swimming and diving coach John “Jack” Roney’s cause of death has been revealed, Us can exclusively report.
An autopsy report obtained by Us reveals that Roney’s death last month was ruled as accidental after the college coach died. He was 39.
Per the medical examiner’s findings, Jack had been practicing underwater breathing exercises while visiting a local pool with his wife, Maresa Roney. In video footage obtained by emergency medical services, John went under the surface for more than two minutes, coming back up for air before going underwater again. Maresa subsequently walked away to make a brief phone call, returning within five minutes, where she found her husband unresponsive.
“Wife told medics her husband was an avid swimmer and on that evening, he had been doing some breathing exercises [and] holding his breath underwater,” the report reads. “Wife pulled him from the water and called 911 … then began CPR.”
Local first responders continued administering CPR while transporting Jack to the hospital. He was pronounced dead upon arrival.
“There were no concerns for suicide, substance abuse or foul play,” the report adds. “No trauma was noted. Law enforcement was reviewing footage of the incident. Due to the circumstances of the death, pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was consulted and the case was accepted there for autopsy.”
In a separate statement from the medical examiner, findings reveal that Jack “had a history of ADHD and was a former college swimmer in a good athletic state.”
“He was last known to be alive the evening of July 5, 2026, when he and his wife went to their community pool following dinner,” the statement reads. “While his wife stepped away, he decided to do breathing techniques to practice holding his breath. Video surveillance captured him submerging, very briefly surfacing about two minutes and 14 seconds later, and then submerging again without resurfacing. His wife returned after approximately five minutes and found him unresponsive in the pool. His wife pulled him out and began cardiopulmonary resuscitative efforts and called emergency responders. … Upon emergency responder arrival, he was in pulseless electrical activity, and they continued resuscitative efforts for approximately one hour.”
NC State announced Jack’s death the next day on July 6.
“We mourn the passing of former assistant coach and Wolfpack alumnus Jack Roney,” the university shared in a social media statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Roney family during this difficult time. His impact on our program and community will be remembered.”
Jack is survived by Maresa, with whom he celebrated his 15th wedding anniversary earlier in July, their five children and the late coach’s siblings.
“My brother…how are you gone? How is this real?” his sister Amber Moore wrote via Facebook. “You were the glue to your family and the glue to ours. How are we supposed to move forward without you? Every single day, you worked to become a better man. So few people live with that kind of purpose, but you did. You were never satisfied with standing still. You wanted to be the best version of yourself every day. To me, you were perfect!!!!”
Jack’s sister Katie Corum also shared a tribute to her late brother on social media, praising him as “an amazing man who loved his wife and kids more than anything in this world.”
“Grief is the price we pay for loving someone so deeply,” Corum stated via Facebook. “Right now, this pain feels never ending, but it also reminds us just how lucky we were to have had Jack in our lives. His absence leaves a hole in our hearts that can never be filled, but the love he gave and the memories he leaves behind will stay with us forever.”
