Hall of Fame Swim Coach Bob Gillett passed away this morning in Phoenix, Arizona after suffering a heart attack. Gillett is a member of both the American Swimming Coaches’ Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Coaches’ Hall of Fame.
Gillett was on the leading edge of underwater swimming in the United States. He’s best known as the coach that lead Misty Hyman to an upset of Susie O’Neill in the 100 fly at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He trained Hyman to National High School Records and National Titles at the Arizona Desert Fox Club, where he trained swimmers that won 20 national championships and 50 junior national championships
Gillett also trained Cindy Tran, one of the best underwater dolphin kickers in high school swimming history, who was the first high school female to go under 52 seconds in the 100 yard backstroke.
Gillett was also the founder of the National Club Swimming Association (NCSA) and their spring Junior National Championship meet, as well as a mentor coach in USA Swimming’s Master Coach program.
I will miss you Bob. Thanks for everything…. Fish kick, Fish flops, jump turns, tempo trainers, and the treatment effect!
Technology could not keep up with Bob… he was always so far ahead of the way most coaches were thinking. I always enjoyed seeing what new piece of technology he had and how he was applying it to coaching. Although it was not a lot of time, I will always be thankful for what time I did get to spend with Bob on and off the pool deck… RIP Coach Gillett.
A great coach who very much, directly and indirectly, motivated my swimmer to be better. Thanks, Bob.
thank you coach bob for your knowledge and will to share. you will be missed.
He will be greatly missed. True innovator and swimming visionary. RIP Bob. Prayers for his family.
He gave so much and left the world a better place because he was in it.
Hard to imagine the swimming world without him. He gave so much and left the world a better place because he’d been in it.
Bob was amazing and always so willing to share with everyone. He was funny and fun to be with and will be missed by so many. He was a great friend.