Updated Oct. 21 with reunion information.
GAINESVILLE, Florida, October 5. FORMER UCLA men's swimming coach Ron "Stix" Ballatore is currently battling throat cancer. Ballatore coached many Olympic gold medalists and world record holders including Brian Goodell, Bill Barrett, Robin Leamy, Bruce Hayes and Tom Jager during his coaching career.
One of Ballatore's pinnacle moments during his coaching career came in 1982 when he led the UCLA Bruins to the 1982 NCAA Division I Championships. Ballatore also served on five Olympic coaching staffs, and was inducted into the Pasadena City College Hall of Fame after beginning his coaching career there in 1967. His final coaching stop occurred in Gainesville at the University of Florida, where he currently resides. Ballatore's former swimmers will be having a reunion in Gainesville the weekend of Oct. 27-29. Details below.
Ballatore's daughter, Angelina, is a captain of the Florida Gators women's swimming team and has qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Reunion Information
Oct. 27
7 p.m. Dinner at Pio's Pasta Company
Oct. 28
11 a.m. Dual meet: Florida vs. Georgia
3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Ballatore Reunion at Florida's Letterman's Club
Nearly 50 people have already signed up for the reunion. Contact rafa@agonswim.com if you plan on attending, but have not RSVPed.
Special thanks to Matt Jones for contributing to this report.