Retired long-time Thompson Valley and Loveland High School head swimming coach Dick Hewson has died at age 88, a source told SwimSwam. Hewson leaves a legacy in Colorado swimming that spans multiple decades of competitive success, including a pool named in his honor.
Hewson coached the boys’ and girls’ swimming programs at Thompson Valley High School and Loveland High School for over 20 years, taking both programs to regional and state prominence. The Colorado native compiled a combined dual-meet record of 344-98-1 in 26 seasons as head coach, including a 205-45 boys’ record and 139-53-1 mark with the girls’ team, along with a state title in 1991. Hewson was inducted into the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1995.
Hewson was a self-described non-swimmer, having instead entered the sport as a coach. In an interview with Loveland Reporter-Herald in 2019, Hewson said, “I was a good listener and I knew how to coach, I knew how to work with kids.”
Hewson was a former track & field coach and football coach in Michigan before settling in Loveland. Before taking the swimming coaching job, Hewson worked at Bill Reed Middle School and was instrumental in raising funds and building Loveland High School’s pool. According to Hewson, he was only willing to oversee the pool under one condition: if he was going to be there, he wanted to coach.
In 2019, the community of Loveland would pay Hewson the ultimate tribute by naming their facility, now known as the Dick Hewson Aquatic Center.
Services for his Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 13th at 10:00 A.M. at the Good Shepherd Church in Loveland, Colorado.
I can’t imagine how many students learned how to swim because of him. What a legacy. Just seeing this so sending prayers.
To “Mrs. Coach” (Marion), Liz, Bob, Tom and Sam, My heart is with you all. I swam and worked for Coach through High School and my first summer home after walking on to the men’s swim team at the Univ of New Mexico half way through my freshman year of college. Coach and the whole family were always so gracious, welcoming and fun. – I swam with Bob and Liz and had Tom for a club coach. Coach was one of the best, he molded a whole generation plus of young men and women and will be remembered fondly.
Coach Hewson was a friend, a mentor, and a consummate gentleman.
He told the best stories about his early coaching career and was instrumental in the development of competitive swimming in Loveland, Colorado, and Northern Colorado. I coached with his sons, (the three of us were at three different clubs) in Northern Colorado and we had the best time!. I had the pleasure of coaching his granddaughters at Wyoming.
I always knew I could show up at Thompson Valley HS and realize I could sit and talk swimming with him for hours. He spoke and I listened intently. He always made me feel very much like a part of his family. Thoughts and prayers to him, his wife, and his family.
Spending any time with Dick was a blessing and so memorable for so many reasons. His legacy made such a huge impact in Colorado swimming and everyone that knew him, knew he was a “hall of fame” person much more than a “hall of fame” coach.
Rest easy, friend.
His son Sam was a WAC Champion and D-1 All-American for Arizona State under Coach Ron Johnson in the early ’80s. Sam also coached and played an important role in presentation of the State High School meets in both Colorado and Arizona.
Sorry for your loss, Sam.
So sorry to hear this. I swam under his son Tom. Both great coaches and even better people. He will be missed.
Coach made an indelible impact on Loveland, Northern Colorado swimming and indeed all of Colorado swimming.
It was an honor coaching a program that he started!
He leaves behind an incredible family and a legacy
I wish his family and all of his friends peace and wonderful memories.
Love you, Coach!