Quick Becomes Master Coach Consultant for USA Swimming

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, February 10. RICHARD Quick will join coaches Jon Urbanchek, Bob Steele and Ed Spencer as the fourth Master Coach Consultant, a contract position created in by USA Swimming in April 2004 to enhance athlete performance and educate and mentor coaches. In this capacity, Quick will provide field service consultation and support to coaches and clubs.

“Richard Quick is one of the most successful coaches in the history of American swimming, and his career experience at the high school, club, university and international levels will be a tremendous asset to our mentoring efforts,” said Pat Hogan, USA Swimming Club Development Director. “The Master Coach program was an enormous success in its first year, and Richard’s addition will enable us to further expand the impact of this unique service.”

“The sport of swimming has given me so much over the past 40 years, and I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to share some of my experience with coaches who are already doing such a fantastic job of continuing the excellence of United States Swimming,” Quick said.

Quick coached at the collegiate level for 29 years before retiring as the head women’s coach at Stanford University in April of 2005, a position he held for 17 years. He was a part of every single Olympic coaching staff since 1984, serving as the women’s head coach three times (1988, ’96, 2000) and as an assistant three times (1984, ‘92, 2004). Quick was named the United States Olympic Committee Coach of the Year in 2000.

Prior to the 2000 Olympics, Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Misty Hyman all trained with Quick. In 2004, four Stanford swimmers competed in Athens: Tara Kirk, Dana Kirk, Caroline Bruce and Kristen Caverly.

Throughout his collegiate coaching career, his teams earned 12 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving team titles, the most by any coach in the history of the sport. In addition to Stanford, Quick also held head coaching stints at Texas (1984-88), Auburn (1978-82) and Iowa State (1977-78).

In this new role, Quick will visit clubs and coaches around the country, beginning in March. He will spend a few days with each club, observing practices, meeting with the coaching staff, answering questions, and offering advice. In addition to field service, Quick and the other three Master Coaches will participate in USA Swimming–sponsored coach education clinics and programs.

“To ensure the continual growth and health of our sport, it only makes sense for us to find ways to keep people like Richard Quick involved,” said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming Executive Director. “The Master Coach program will do this in a way that not only eases their transition into retirement, but ensures that we are capturing and sharing the lifetime of knowledge and wisdom that they have gained.”

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