CONTENT WARNING: If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call the national suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit their website at https://
Former RIO Salado Swim Club and Chandler High School head coach Bob Chen has died. He was in his early 30s.
Chen served as the RIO Salado Swim Club head coach since August 2015 and had been with the club since 2010. During his time there, he had coached within every level of the program.
In 2020, the club produced 2 Olympic Trials qualifiers for the first time since 2008. At the Wave I meet of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, Landon Driggers finished 6th in the 200 backstroke. At the Wave II meet, Jeremy Graunke finished 44th in the 50 free, which made him the third-highest placing junior swimmer at those Trials.
Chen had recently accepted a position with the Santa Clara Swim Club to return closer to home.
Prior to being named Head Coach at Rio Salado, Bob was a nationally ranked HS swimmer for Missiona San Jose Aquatics in Fremont, CA under Debbie Potts. He studied political science at San Jose State University before moving to Chandler, AZ and starting as a Head Site Coach for RIO’s DT program at Hamilton High School. He was also the Basha High School head coach for 2 years 2014-2015. In 2020, he was named the Arizona High School Swimming Division 1 Girls Coach of the Year.
The death is the latest to rock the Chandler High School swimming community over the last year, though Chen’s is not reported to be the result of a COVID-19 infection.
Chen took over as the head coach at Chandler High School after Kerry Croswhite died in July of 2020 from a COVID-19 infection. Not long after, in December, Tony and Lisa Vasquez, parents of Chandler High senior swimmer Brisa Vasquez, died just 19 hours apart from COVID-19.
According to an email sent to the team on Sunday evening, Chen took his own life.
I sat in a meeting today with Rio and found out bob was soliciting child prostitution. Got arrested and then took his own life. I am not sure this is someone we need to idolize.
Explains what was a sudden departure from coaching the club and high school team.
It mentioned in the article that he had just recently taken a position in Santa Clara, that was the reason for him leaving the club and high school teams, not this new information that was just revealed recently.
The Arizona swim family will miss you Bob, RIP brother!
Met him at the OTC at a camp. High energy, engaging and one heck of a person. I instantly knew we were going to be friends (we even played a little basketball out there while our athletes were training). Though we’ve texted through the years, I regret not seeing you one last time on deck. You’ll be sorely missed by the thousands of lives you’ve positively influenced and impacted. Much love and thoughts go to his family, his athletes and the ones so profoundly rocked from this. Im eternally grateful to call you a friend and colleague. Rest in eternal peace BC.
May he rest in peace. He was one of the best coaches I’ve had. he would always be happy at the beginning of practice and would have a good mood. Devastating news.
So sad to read yet I’m also so grateful that you are publishing the truth here about his talents and struggle so that others might get some help. These are trying times for many. Don’t suffer in silence, good people of swimming! You entered the magnificent world of swimming to make it better, so please be kind to yourselves!
Unfortunately, there’s more to the story that is just coming out. Not good.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts – you can walk into an emergency room for help before you make an attempt.
Easier said than done. People’s struggles are different.
This message wasn’t supposed to be critical of what happened.
Its for those reading this who need to know how to get help but don’t know how.
Bob coached me in my last few years of high school. He was such a great coach but an even better friend. Hearing this just breaks my heart. You will always be loved by many Bob. Rest easy my friend.
Completely Heart Broken! One of the nicest people I have ever met. He will be truly missed.