The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Former UT Women's Swimming and Diving coach Richard Quick passes away at 66
06.11.2009 | Women's Swimming and Diving
June 11, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas -- Former University of Texas head women's swimming and diving coach Richard Quick passed away Wednesday, June 10 at the age of 66. Quick, who was serving in his second stint as the head men's and women's swimming and diving coach at Auburn University, had been battling an inoperable malignant brain tumor that was diagnosed in December 2008.
Quick took over the reins of the Texas women's swimming and diving program prior to the 1982-83 season and led the Texas women to five consecutive NCAA team championships from 1984 to 1988. Quick left Texas for Stanford in 1988 and spent 17 seasons with the Cardinal while leading Stanford to seven NCAA team titles.
Quick left Auburn in 1982 to take over the Texas women's program and returned to Auburn in 2007 to head the men's and women's swimming and diving programs. This past March, Quick's Auburn men's team captured the NCAA team title and made Quick the winningest NCAA Division I swimming and diving coach with 13 NCAA team titles.
Quick served as a head coach or assistant coach for the United States at six Olympiads. Quick led the U.S. women at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He also served as an assistant coach with the U.S. women at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Quick began his coaching career in 1965 at Houston's Memorial High School, where he served for six seasons. Quick then worked as a men's assistant coach at SMU from 1971-75 before starting the SMU women's program in 1976. He coached the Iowa State men's program during the 1977-78 season before departing for Auburn in 1978 to head the Tiger men's and women's programs.
Quick graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education from SMU in 1965 and earned a master's degree in physiology of exercise from SMU in 1977. He is survived by his wife, June, along with their four children; Michael, Kathy, Tiffany and Benjamin, and two grandchildren, Blake and Emily.
UT REMEMBERS RICHARD QUICK
Texas head women's swimming and diving coach Kim Brackin
Richard had an incredible impact in my coaching career, and without a doubt, I would not be coaching today if not for Richard. He was an outstanding mentor to me, and I've integrated some of the things I learned from him in my own coaching. This past season, our team made a goal of lighting the UT Tower in burnt orange (to recognize a conference or national title), and Richard's Texas teams made a habit of doing just that. It meant a lot for our team to do that and follow all of the tremendous teams that came before us, and it will mean even more for us to do that in 2010. I'll always remember what he did for The University of Texas, for swimming and for me, personally, as a coach.
Texas women's athletics director Chris Plonsky
Richard's legacy is the beauty of his family and children, and the family of swimmers forever connected as teammates. He coached with positive passion, energy and optimism. Those Longhorns from 1984-88 defined the 'wow factor' - winning five consecutive NCAA titles. Richard was the ultimate Texas teammate. He loved his student-athletes, his fellow coaches, and his sport. We've lost a beloved friend and colleague.
Jill Sterkel, former Texas swimmer and former UT head women's swimming and diving coach
Richard was one of the best, and they always seem to get taken earlier than seems fair. Richard was my mentor, friend, coach and my inspiration on living life everyday to the fullest… that is how he lived and coached.
Texas head men's swimming and diving coach Eddie Reese
I'll remember the kind of fighter he was for his swimmers and for his sport. There are people who pushed the envelope, but Richard never knew where the envelope was. He was always trying to move in an innovative direction. He touched a lot of people's lives and touched them in the right way. He had a passion for his sport and for his swimmers. We will miss Richard dearly.
