UCLA women’s swim coach Cyndi Gallagher, Suburban Swim Club coach Charlie Kennedy and Indiana University coach Ray Looze will be inducted to the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Hall of Fame in the class of 2021, the organization announced Thursday.
Gallagher retired after the 2019 season following 31 seasons as the women’s head coach at UCLA. She compiled a record of 194-104-2 with nine top-10 finishes and 15 top-15 finishes at NCAAs. She has coached numerous Olympians and national champions, including Annette Salmeen and Kim Vandenberg. Gallagher is currently coaching the International Swimming League’s DC Trident.
Kennedy has spent 35 years as the head coach of the Suburban Seahawks in suburban Philadelphia and more than 20 years leading Swarthmore College. He’s turned SSC into a national powerhouse and been recognized as one of the nation’s top age-group coaches. He’s mentored Olympic gold medalist Brendan Hansen as well as national champions Grace Cornelius and Corrie Clark.
Looze has spent 18 years in charge of Indiana University, making it not just one of the top collegiate programs but one of the nation’s foremost incubators of elite international post-grad talent. He’s mentored 10 Olympic swimmers – including Lilly King, Cody Miller and Blake Pieroni – who have yielded seven medals. Looze coached for Team USA at the 2016 Olympics. The ASCA Coach of the Year in 2017 and CSCAA Coach of the Year in 2018, Looze has led Indiana to top-10 finishes each year in Bloomington, including 22 NCAA champions and nine Big Ten team championships.
The coaches will be inducted in a ceremony Sept. 16 at the Rosen Hotel in Orlando as part of the ASCA World Clinic. The ASCA Hall of Fame class of 2021 continues a tradition dating back to 1958, recognizing coaches that have contributed to the history and success of American swimming.