Lessons with the Legends: Yale Coach Phil Moriarty
By Michael J. Stott
The lengthy life of Yale swimming and diving coach Phil Moriarty has a rags-to-riches ring to it. “Rags” because he started as a towel boy for legendary coach Bob Kiphuth. “Riches” because in his 37-year illustrious Eli career, he produced Olympic champions, world record holders and earned respect from athletes, opposing coaches and the swimming world at large.
Born in New Haven in 1914, Moriarty never earned a college degree. Early on, his goal was to be associated with the Yale aquatics programs and Exhibition Pool in Payne Whitney Gymnasium. He was selected as Yale’s diving coach in 1939, a position he maintained until his 1976 retirement. In 1959, he succeeded Kiphuth as Bulldog head swimming coach, eventually posting a 195-25 dual meet mark. In 1971, he became Yale’s first women’s coach.
From those who knew him:
Steve Clark (2x Olympian, 3x Olympic gold medalist, WR holder, ISHOF inductee)
“As a coach, Phil Moriarty taught me to be independent. As a freshman, I was young, naive and erratic in my swimming. I remember him as a stickler for honesty and straightforward candor.
John Lapides (Yale ’72, president of the Yale Swimming Association)
“Phil’s passion and ambition was to teach young students to excel. His thoughtful and caring guidance of young scholars helped them develop good values and strong character. His personal qualities served as a shining example of all that can be accomplished when one willingly devotes his life to nurturing and teaching each new generation of Yale athletes.
To hear more about Coach Phil’s impact from the likes of Ed Bettendorf, Dave Johnson, and Paul Gilbert,
check out the September 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
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Swimming World Magazine September 2019 Issue
FEATURES
016 TEST RUN FOR TOKYO
by Craig Lord, John Lohn and David Rieder
With the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo a year away, this summer’s World Championships, July 21-28, in Gwangju, South Korea was a global meet of watersheds, with pioneers refusing to yield to youth and youth seizing their day to overtake pioneers. It also served as confirmation that we live in a new age of longevity and strong dynasties.
18th FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MINI-FEATURES:
018 CAELEB DRESSEL: ALWAYS STRIVING TO GET BETTER AND FASTER
020 ADAM PEATY: MAKING “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” POSSIBLE
021 REGAN SMITH: SUDDENLY, AN OLYMPIC FAVORITE
022 KATIE LEDECKY: DESPITE ILLNESS, LEDECKY REMAINS CONFIDENT
024 DOPING: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
026 RISING TO TOKYO
028 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PHOTO GALLERY
030 EMERGING FROM THE SHADOWS
by David Rieder
The Carmel High School girls swimming team has won six national titles in the last nine years. But at the end of the 2018-19 season—and after finishing national runner-up the last two years—it was the Carmel boys who seized the spotlight as the best swimming team in the country.
033 SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE’S BOYS’ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS MOCK HEAT SHEET
by Bob Klapthor
035 REPEAT CHAMPIONS
by Dan D’Addona
Coach Polly Linden’s Harpeth Hall (Tenn.) swimmers have dominated the last two Swimming World girls’ national high school championships, winning by 35 points last year and nearly 50 this year over Santa Margarita Catholic, 168 to 118.5.
038 SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE’S GIRLS’ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS MOCK HEAT SHEET
by Bob Klapthor
042 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH NATALIE COUGHLIN
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COACHING
010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: PHIL MORIARTY
by Michael J. Stott
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: RISK FACTORS FOR SHOULDER INJURY IN SWIMMING
by Rod Havriluk
The most common risk factors for shoulder problems are overuse, muscular imbalances and harmful technique. Fortunately, there are also options to minimize risk.
044 SPECIAL SETS: EARLY AGE GROUP TRAINING—GETTING STARTED
by Michael J. Stott
Megan Hughes, an Aquajets Swim Team lead age group coach, offers insight on what a youngster with some summer league success can expect when deciding to try a year-round program.
046 KNOWING THE BASICS OF AGE GROUP SWIMMING
by Michael J. Stott
Here’s everything parents need to know about age group swimming.
051 Q&A WITH COACH ALICIA KEMNITZ
by Michael J. Stott
052 HOW THEY TRAIN: JESSICA MACDONALD
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: FALL STRENGTH—BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
049 GOLDMINDS: NEVER SAY NEVER
by Wayne Goldsmith
When success doesn’t come easily or early—relax! Success will come if you give everything you have to the achievement of your goals, and if you work tirelessly to be all you can be.
055 UP & COMERS: TRISTAN PRAGNELL
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 BEYOND THE YARDS
040 THE OFFICIAL WORD
041 MOMS AT MEETS
054 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
056 GUTTERTALK
057 PARTING SHOT