When Coaching Legend Eddie Reese Recruited Rowdy Gaines

When Coaching Legend Eddie Reese Recruited Rowdy Gaines

Before Eddie Reese took command of the deck at the University of Texas and guided the Longhorns to 15 NCAA championships, he was the head coach at Auburn University and coached a certain Olympic champ and future voice of the sport: Rowdy Gaines. In the latest episode of Inside With Brett Hawke, the superb podcast that attracts many of the top names in the sport, Reese discusses his recruitment of Gaines.

In his conversation with Hawke, Reese recalls attending the Florida State Championships and watching Gaines race. He shared a story about speaking with Gaines’ grandmother and stating that her grandson had the attitude and stroke to become an Olympian. More, Reese notes that Gaines, who won three gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, dropped from a 1:41 to a 1:36 during his freshman year in the 200-yard freestyle.

One of the things that stands out about Reese from his recent interview with Hawke is his ability to recall specific moments from his career. Reese has an uncanny gift for going back in time, recalling a memorable moment and presenting it in captivating fashion. That skill is certainly prevalent in his sitdown with Hawke, as Reese dips into history on several occasions.

Here is the clip where Reese discusses Gaines, who is now best known for his commentary, most notably as an analyst for NBC Sports. Lately, Reese has been doing commentary for the third season of the International Swimming League.

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