Swimming World has learned of the passing of Ryan Kent of the Westside Silver Fins YMCA in Arizona, according to the team. He was a coach for the Silver Fins since August 2003, and has coached numerous state finalists and sectional qualifiers, including current Cal senior Amy Bilquist.
Bilquist swam for Kent at the Silver Fins until she moved to Carmel, Indiana, in high school. Bilquist gave Swimming World permission to reprint an open letter she wrote to Kent after learning of his passing.
It is hard to find the words to say when you lose someone that helped pave your life. Ryan was the man who helped pave mine, and countless other swimmers’ lives.
Photo Courtesy: Amy Bilquist
I was four years old when Ryan first started coaching me, and six when I first joined Westside Silver Fins. I was quickly moved up to Ryan’s group, and as he moved up to coach the better groups, a group of us moved with him, myself included. Ryan did not just show me what it meant to have the skills of a swimmer: determination, an unrelenting work ethic, toughness, and courage, but he also showed me skills of life. Everything I ever thought he was teaching me about my swimming, he was teaching me about my life. When you are hurt, you don’t quit. When you are not feeling your best, pick yourself up. And Ryan’s favorite and most repeated phrase he ever told me was “Suck It Up.” I take that back, the phrase I heard him say the most to his swimmers was, “I am proud of you.”
Photo Courtesy: Amy Bilquist
This may paint Ryan out as a tough guy, but he was the biggest softie. Some say swim coaches care about swimming above everything, but if you ever knew Ryan you know that there was one thing he cared about more than anything, his swimmers. He always knew when we were having bad days and would ask us about them, he would ask us about our family, school, anything. He was invested in every swimmer he ever coached. He is a rare coaching breed. Never gave himself credit; instead, he always accredited all his swimmers’ successes to their own hard work. In reality, not one Silver Fin would be who they are, both swimmer and person, without Ryan Kent.
Photo Courtesy: Amy Bilquist
I grew up swimming with a small group but Ryan always kept up with us. Whenever I was in town he would tell me about what everyone was doing, who quit swimming to pursue a new passion, who was still swimming, and no matter what anyone was doing the one thing that never changed was that he was proud of us.
Photo Courtesy: Amy Bilquist
Ryan and I have kept in touch every step of my life. He was the first person I called when I got 3rd at the 2016 Olympic Trials, and all he could tell me was, “I know this sucks kid, but I am so proud of you and that will never change.” To me, that was the most I could have ever asked from a coach.
Photo Courtesy: Amy Bilquist
If you ever swam for Ryan you know how special of a coach and person he was. If you ever met Ryan you knew how passionate and caring he was. And if you never met Ryan, know that he was the epitome of what makes the sport of swimming great.
Photo Courtesy: Amy Bilquist
Ryan gave me everything I needed in order to pave the career and life I have and everything I will face in the future, and in return I gave him some extra grey hairs on his beard, some headaches, memories and smiles. Ryan, thank you for giving me more than I could have ever asked from a person, let alone from my age group coach. You have forever changed my life. In every hardship and success your swimmers, including myself, have, I hope you know you played such an instrumental role in teaching us how to handle them that is beyond what any of us could have hoped. You were more than a coach; you were a teacher and a mentor. I will remember all the lessons you have taught me and carry them with me the rest of my life. Rest easy Ryan, you are loved by so many.
Love, Amy
Photo Courtesy: Amy Bilquist
I know this man will be missed, he taught my Granddaughter (Kennedy Noble) she always spoke highly of him and how much he has helped her along her swimming journey. My prayers go out to his family and all the kids he has helped. Thank you, MaryJane Lybarger