An autopsy report has revealed the final moments of former North Carolina State assistant swimming coach Jack Roney, who died on July 5 at the age of 39, just weeks after his 15th wedding anniversary.
According to the autopsy report, obtained by US Weekly, Roney had been practicing underwater breathing exercises at a pool with his wife, Maresa. He went underwater for over two minutes before surfacing for air, then submerged himself again.
During that time, Maresa walked away to make a brief phone call. She returned five minutes later to find her husband unresponsive in the water.
The autopsy report stated that Roney's wife told medics her husband was an avid swimmer and that on the evening of July 5, he had been doing breathing exercises and holding his breath underwater. The report said the wife pulled him from the water, called 911 and began CPR, and that there were no concerns for suicide, substance abuse or foul play. It added that no trauma was noted, that law enforcement was reviewing footage of the incident, and that the case was accepted for autopsy by pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Emergency response and medical examiner's statement
Local first responders administered CPR on Roney while transporting him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A separate statement from the medical examiner said Roney had a history of ADHD. The statement said he was last known to be alive on the evening of July 5, 2026, when he and his wife went to their community pool following dinner. It said that upon emergency responders' arrival, he was in pulseless electrical activity, and they continued resuscitative efforts for approximately one hour.
The North Carolina State swimming and diving team announced Roney's death in a social media post on July 6, saying their thoughts and prayers were with the Roney family during the difficult time, and that his impact on the program and community would be remembered.
Family and swimming legacy
Roney is survived by his wife, Maresa, and their five children, Gunnar, Scout, Beau, Archer and Crew.
He left North Carolina State as the program record holder for the 200-yard breaststroke, a record that has since been broken, and served as an assistant coach during the 2014-16 seasons, according to Herald Online.
A GoFundMe page set up for the family said that just days after celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary, Maresa lost her husband. It described Jack as a true Wolfpacker, a man of Christ, and a beloved father, friend and husband, and said Maresa now faces the challenge of raising their children alone. The page said she needs help with daily expenses, childcare and ensuring her children can pursue their education and dreams.
