Swimming World Presents “Lessons with the Legends: Ron O’Brien”

Photo Courtesy: International Swimming Hall of Fame

Lessons with the Legends: Ron O’Brien

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Swimming World continues a series in which top coaches share some of the secrets of their success. The May issue of Swimming World Magazine highlights the many accomplishments of Coach Ron O’Brien.

O’Brien was a national champion diver for the United States and Ohio State University. He began coaching in 1962 and was head OSU coach from 1963-78. After moving to Mission Viejo in 1978, he developed a diving juggernaut before relocating to Boca Raton in 1985 to produce similar results with the Mission Bay Makos. From 1991 to 1996, he directed the Fort Lauderdale Dive Team before serving as diving special events coordinator at the Hall of Fame Aquatic complex.

Seven times—from 1972-96—he was the head Olympic coach (and assistant in 1968), placing divers into 29 Olympic spots, resulting in five gold, three silver, and four bronze medals. While Greg Louganis is his most famous protégé, some of his other Olympians included: Megan Neyer, Michele Mitchell, Chuck Knorr, Mike Finneran, Jennifer Chandler, Debbie Keppler, Tim Moore, Kent Vosler, Dave Burgering, Kevin Machemer, Randy Ableman, Kit Salness, Wendy Wyland, Wendy Williams, Kent Ferguson, Karen LaFace, Scott Donie, Jenny Keim and Mary Ellen Clark.

O’Brien was also seven-time head coach at both the World Championships and the World Cup, and four times at the Pan American Games.

To learn more about O’Brien and his many coaching accomplishments, check out the May 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

[College Championship Issue Photo by Peter H. Bick]

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FEATURES

016 JUST ENOUGH
by Dan D’Addona, David Rieder and Annie Grevers
With one event remaining, Texas, Cal and Indiana all had a chance to win the men’s NCAA Division I Championships. But it was the Longhorns who held on to capture their fourth straight team title in what turned out to be the closest finish in 16 years.

MEN’S NCAA DIVISION I MINI-FEATURES:
019 CAELEB DRESSEL: SO MUCH MORE
021 MEN’S 200 FREE: A PORTENT OF THINGS TO COME
022 NC STATE: ON THE RISE
023 HOOSIER BREASTSTROKE: LETTING LOOZE

025 MEN’S NCAA DIVISION I PHOTO GALLERY
photos by Peter H. Bick

026 THE STANFORD SUPREMACY
by Dan D’Addona, David Rieder and Annie Grevers
Stanford’s women’s swimming team established its “identity” a year ago by dominating the women’s NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships and winning its first team title in 19 years. This year’s action-packed sequel was even more thrilling!

WOMEN’S NCAA DIVISION I MINI-FEATURES:
029 TEXAS A&M: BUILDING ON THE BULTMAN LEGACY
030 ELLA EASTIN: CONFIDENT AND FOCUSED
031 MICHIGAN, LOUISVILLE, TEXAS: EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

033 WOMEN’S NCAA DIVISION I PHOTO GALLERY
photos by Peter H. Bick

035 STREAKS ALIVE…MOSTLY
by Chandler Brandes and Andy Ross
Queens, Emory and Indian River continued their winning streaks at their respective college national championships, but Denison, Savannah College of Art and Design and Keiser are ready to start (or restart) some streaks of their own.

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: RON O’BRIEN
by Michael J. Stott

014 THE RELATIVE ORIENTATION OF BODY PARTS: HIGH ELBOW OR DEEP CATCH?
by Rod Havriluk
Swimmers can achieve precise control of body movements—such as “high elbow” and “deep catch”—with strict focus on cues, providing the cues have specific information about the relative position and motion of body parts.

040 OFF-SEASON TRAINING: A BUILDING BLOCK FOR FUTURE SUCCESS
by Michael J. Stott

042 Q&A WITH COACH ANDY BOYCE
by Michael J. Stott

043 HOW THEY TRAIN SAM POSTMUS
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

039 DRYSIDE TRAINING: WET-LAND TRAINING
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

045 UP & COMERS: MENA BOARDMAN
by Taylor Brien

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 BEYOND THE YARDS
041 THE OFFICIAL WORD
046 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT

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