Skip Kenney

Allen "Skip" Kenney was an American college swimming and diving coach, retired from coaching at Stanford University in 2012 as the head coach of its swimming team. [1] He coached teams to conference titles 27 years in a row, an American college record. He broke the Pac-10 Conference record for consecutive titles for any sport with his 14 titles. The Pacific-10 conference named Kenney Pac-10 Coach of the Year 17 times in the span of 23 years.

Kenney has also coached on the international circuit. He was appointed the men's coach for the U.S. team at the 2004 Short Course World Championships. He served as head coach of the United States Men's Swimming Team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and assistant coach at both the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games.

Kenney is a member of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

On March 9, 2007, Kenney was suspended indefinitely, with pay, by Stanford after admitting to removing entries for records set by five swimmers that he had disagreements (Jason Plummer, Michael McLean, Tobias Oriwol, Rick Eddy, Peter Carothers) with from the Stanford swimming team's media guide. The team was coached, on an interim basis, by associate head coach Ted Knapp.[2] On April 20, 2007, Stanford announced that Kenney would serve a 60 day suspension without pay and then return to his position as head coach. Kenney issued an apology to the Stanford community.[3]

Kenney served in the United States Marine Corps, in combat in Vietnam for 13 months in 1965 to 1966; four months were spent as a sniper. He says that he draws on his service in the Marine Corps in his coaching. "Whether you are racing or in combat, for you to be at your best, your mind takes over and your body follows. Your expectations rise."[4]

References

  1. ↑ "M. Swimming: For first time in 33 years, Card opens season without Skip Kenney at helm" (Press release). Stanford University. October 18, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  2. ↑ FitzGerald, Tom (March 10, 2007). "Stanford swim coach pulled from job; Kenney suspended for erasing records of 5 of his athletes". San Francisco Chronicle.
  3. ↑ "Stanford swim coach Skip Kenney suspended; coach issues apology" (Press release). Stanford University. April 20, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
  4. ↑ Anderson, Kelli (January–February 2007). "Master Stroke". Stanford Magazine. Retrieved 22 March 2009. The last time a swim team other than Skip Kenney’s won the Pac-10 title, Ronald Reagan was in his first term. This is how it looks inside a dynasty.