International Swim Coaches Association Inducts Eddie Reese, Franke Bell and Dick Jochums into ISCA Hall of Fame

International Swim Coaches Association

In its first Hall of Fame induction ceremony as an organization, the International Swim Coaches Association (ISCA) awarded a green jacket and a golden ring to three longtime swimming coaches at its sixth annual coaches clinic.

The ceremony, conducted in Clearwater, Fla., at a private venue attended by 100 people, honored Eddie Reese, Dick Jochums and Franke Bell.

Bell, a longtime coach from North Carolina, was honored for her decades of coaching age-group swimmers in the Mecklenburg area. Many of her swimmers have gone on to excel at the national and international level.

Franke Bell

Photo Courtesy: SW


Mel Stewart, a two-time Olympian, and former world record holder with three Olympic medals, introduced Bell as his age group coach.

Bell was recognized as a pioneer of women in sport as she traveled as a representative for Swimming World Magazine to the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo and the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. She also was nominated to serve on the coaching staff of three Pan American Games. However, the core of her life’s work was teaching age-group swimmers.

“All I ever wanted to do was to share in the dreams of children,” Bell said at the ceremony.

The 83-year-old coach had an entourage of supporters and former swimmers in attendance to celebrate her life-long achievements.

Jochums was the second to be inducted for his life-long accomplishments as a coach whose athletes won 12 Olympic medals, set 25 world records and 60 American records. Randy Reese, three-time Olympic coach, introduced him.

Dick Jochum

Photo Courtesy: SW


Jochums, the “John Wayne” of swimming, spoke in his patented candid way to the audience, revealing his childhood challenge of overcoming dyslexia and how he used that disability to become a very focused person. He shared how difficult it was for him to read and how inspired he became after reading his first book, 26 Great Football Coaches.

Jochums grew up in the era of such coaches as Peter Daland, Sherm Chavour, George Haines, Doc Counsilman and Don Gambril during the prime of their careers and taking the best of what he could learn from them.

“Swimmers make coaches. When they won, I sat back. When they failed, I went down on deck,” Jochum shared.

The third inductee was Reese for his 50 years of coaching, 38 of which were spent as the head men’s coach for the University of Texas. Mark Schubert, eight-time Olympic coach and former National Team Director for USA Swimming, introduced Reese as a five-time Olympic coach with 11 NCAA team titles.
Eddie Reese
Reese, who was influenced to get involved in swimming at a young age by his father who lost three brothers in a tragic drowning accident, said he never wanted to be an Olympic coach nor did he ever want to be an NCAA champion.

“All I wanted to do was to get people to go fast. I have no clue where my championship rings are, but I do know what every athlete did for me to win that ring.” Reese said.

ISCA plans on having an annual Hall of Fame banquet each year at its annual coaches clinic in Clearwater.

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Gerald Macedo
8 years ago

Congrats to all. Really surprised Eddie wasn’t already in!

Bill Bell
8 years ago

When former Arizona Wikdcat George DiCarlo swam in and won the Olympic gold in the 400 free at Los Angeles HUS coach was Dick Jochums, who also coached TIM Shaw at Long Beach State a decade earlier.

In any event, Jichums was supposedly so nervous, the story gives, about DiCarlo’s race he went up to the very top’if the grandstSnd and essentially “HUS” until just before yto finish.

No,word on what he did during the 1500 where DiCarlo took silver to Mike O’Brien’s gold.

An interesting post- script to the 400…the Okymoics had “B” finals then and they were contested AFZtER the finals.

In the LA’s “B” finals WestbGernany’s Thomas FHrnervwon in 3:50.9, a couple rents faster than DiCarlo’s final time — and an Okymouc record too.

Thatbdudn’t sit well w/FINA or IOC officials, understandably, so they fave DiCarlo the record.

robert killeen
robert killeen
8 years ago
Reply to  Bill Bell

Swimming in a meaningless banana heat with no pressure does not in any way lessen George’s gold medal.

Ralph Pollock
8 years ago

Congratulations

Stephen Hollett
8 years ago

Congrats Franke Bell!

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