Former SMU Swimming Coach Richard Quick Dies

Former SMU women's swim coach Richard Quick passed away Wednesday at the age of 66. One of the most recognizable names in the swimming and diving community, Quick was a six-time United States Olympic coach who directed 13 teams to NCAA titles, the most ever by a swimming coach.

Former SMU women's swim coach Richard Quick, who was diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous brain tumor in December 2008, died Wednesday at the age of 66. One of the most recognizable names in the swimming and diving community, Quick was a six-time United States Olympic coach who directed 13 teams to NCAA titles, the most ever by a swimming coach.

Richard QuickQuick had a special relationship with SMU. He grew up in Dallas, received both his Bachelor's and Masters Degree at SMU and began his coaching career on the Hilltop. He also played a huge role in starting the women's program at SMU.

He served as Auburn's head coach from 1978-82, took over the Tiger program for a second time in 2007. This past season, his sixth at Auburn, Quick's men's team captured the 2009 NCAA title.

Along with his men's title in 2009, Quick captured seven NCAA titles at Stanford and five at Texas. Six times he was named the NCAA Coach of the Year, including this past season. Internationally, Quick was the head coach of the United States team at the 1988, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games and also served as an assistant at the 1984, `92, and 2004 Olympics.

A member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Quick served as the head women's swimming and diving coach at Stanford for 17 seasons from 1988-2005. Prior to his arrival at Stanford, Quick led the Texas women to a then-unprecedented five straight NCAA titles (1984-88), a string he extended to six in a row in his first season at Stanford.

Quick also served as the men's head coach at Iowa State during the 1977-78 season before becoming the women's head coach at SMU in 1976-77.

Quick earned a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education (1965) and a Master's degree in Physiology of Exercise (1977) from Southern Methodist.

He began his coaching career at Houston's Memorial High School (1965-71), guiding his team to six state championships before returning to SMU, where he served as an assistant coach on the men's side for four years (1971-75) before starting the SMU women's program in 1976.

Quick is survived by his wife June, and children, Michael, Kathy, Tiffany and Benjamin, and grandchildren, Blake and Emily.

Memorial service plans will be announced when they become available.

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