Eddie Reese
Encyclopedia
Edwin Charles "Eddie" Reese (born July 23, 1941) is an American college and Olympic
swimming
coach and former college swimmer. Reese has been the head coach of the Texas Longhorns men's swimming and diving team that represents the University of Texas in Austin, Texas
since 1978, and previously served as the men's head coach for the United States' Olympic Swimming Team in 2004 and 2008, as well as an assistant coach at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics.
in 1941. He attended Mainland High School
in Daytona Beach, and swam for the Mainland Buccaneers high school swim team, winning two state high school championships in the 200-yard individual medley swimming event.
He then attended the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, where he swam for coach Buddy Crone and coach Bill Harlan's Florida Gators swimming and diving teams, leading the Gators to three consecutive Southeastern Conference
(SEC) team championships (1961, 1962, 1963). As the team's senior co-captain
, Reese became the first Florida swimmer to win five SEC individual titles in a single season—the 200-yard breaststroke, the 200-yard and 400-yard individual medleys, the 400-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard medley relay.
Reese graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
in physical education
in 1963.
from Florida in 1965. Reese then coached and taught at Roswell High School
in Roswell, New Mexico
for two years (1965–1966), before returning to the University of Florida as an assistant coach for six seasons (1967–1972).
Reese became the head coach of the Auburn Tigers swim team at Auburn University
in Auburn, Alabama
in 1972, leading the Tigers for six seasons (1973–1978). The Tigers were a team that had not qualified a single swimmer for the finals or consolation finals of the SEC championship meet during the previous season. After six seasons, Auburn had produced four consecutive top-ten showings at the NCAA championships—and in his final season at Auburn, the Tigers placed second in the SEC and NCAA championships, the highest finish in program history to that time.
In 1978, Reese accepted the head coaching position for the Texas Longhorns men's swimming and diving team of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas
. Since that time, his Longhorns team have won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) team championships (1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010), and he has been named NCAA Coach of the Year eight times. Reese has coached numerous current and former world record holders. His recent elite swimmers include Ian Crocker
, Brendan Hansen
, Neil Walker, Ricky Berens
, Dave Walters, Garrett Weber-Gale
, Eric Shanteau
and Aaron Peirsol
.
(ISHOF) as an "Honor Coach" in 2002. His brother, Randy Reese
, who is also a university and Olympic swimming coach, was inducted in 2005. Reese is also a member of the Longhorn Hall of Honor.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
coach and former college swimmer. Reese has been the head coach of the Texas Longhorns men's swimming and diving team that represents the University of Texas in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
since 1978, and previously served as the men's head coach for the United States' Olympic Swimming Team in 2004 and 2008, as well as an assistant coach at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics.
Early years
Reese was born in Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
in 1941. He attended Mainland High School
Mainland High School
Mainland High School is a public high school located in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is attended by 1,979 students of grades nine through twelve. The mascot is a Buccaneer and strongly resembles the old logo of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.-Daytona Public School:...
in Daytona Beach, and swam for the Mainland Buccaneers high school swim team, winning two state high school championships in the 200-yard individual medley swimming event.
He then attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he swam for coach Buddy Crone and coach Bill Harlan's Florida Gators swimming and diving teams, leading the Gators to three consecutive Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) team championships (1961, 1962, 1963). As the team's senior co-captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
, Reese became the first Florida swimmer to win five SEC individual titles in a single season—the 200-yard breaststroke, the 200-yard and 400-yard individual medleys, the 400-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard medley relay.
Reese graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
in 1963.
Coaching career
After Reese graduated from Florida, he remained in Gainesville as a graduate assistant coach and earned his master's degreeMaster's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Florida in 1965. Reese then coached and taught at Roswell High School
Roswell High School (New Mexico)
Roswell High School is a public senior high school in Roswell, New Mexico. It is a part of the Roswell Independent School District. Established in 1913, it is the oldest public high school in the city. The colors of RHS are: Dark Crimson Red, White and Black, their mascot is a Coyote...
in Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
for two years (1965–1966), before returning to the University of Florida as an assistant coach for six seasons (1967–1972).
Reese became the head coach of the Auburn Tigers swim team at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
in Auburn, Alabama
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
in 1972, leading the Tigers for six seasons (1973–1978). The Tigers were a team that had not qualified a single swimmer for the finals or consolation finals of the SEC championship meet during the previous season. After six seasons, Auburn had produced four consecutive top-ten showings at the NCAA championships—and in his final season at Auburn, the Tigers placed second in the SEC and NCAA championships, the highest finish in program history to that time.
In 1978, Reese accepted the head coaching position for the Texas Longhorns men's swimming and diving team of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Since that time, his Longhorns team have won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) team championships (1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010), and he has been named NCAA Coach of the Year eight times. Reese has coached numerous current and former world record holders. His recent elite swimmers include Ian Crocker
Ian Crocker
Ian Lowell Crocker is a former American swimmer and five-time Olympic medalist. He is a former world record holder in the 100 meter butterfly ....
, Brendan Hansen
Brendan Hansen
Brendan Joseph Hansen is an American breaststroke swimmer and four-time Olympic medalist...
, Neil Walker, Ricky Berens
Ricky Berens
Richard Berens is an American Olympic swimmer.-Career:At the 2007 Pan American Games, Berens won a gold medal in the 4x100 m medley, and silver medals in both the 4x100 m freestyle and 4x200 m freestyle relays.At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Berens won the gold medal in the men's 4x200 m freestyle...
, Dave Walters, Garrett Weber-Gale
Garrett Weber-Gale
Garrett Weber-Gale is an American Olympic swimmer who won two gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.-Early life:Weber-Gale is Jewish, and was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He competed for the University of Texas from 2003–07...
, Eric Shanteau
Eric Shanteau
Eric Lee Shanteau is an American Olympic swimmer. He lives and trains in Austin, Texas.-College:...
and Aaron Peirsol
Aaron Peirsol
Aaron Wells Peirsol is a former American swimmer who specialized in the backstroke. He is a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist . As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×100-meter medley relay...
.
Honors and awards
Reese was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1988, and the International Swimming Hall of FameInternational Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
(ISHOF) as an "Honor Coach" in 2002. His brother, Randy Reese
Randy Reese
Randy Reese is an American college and Olympic swimming coach. Reese is best known for coaching the Florida Gators swimming and diving teams to four national championships, and coaching the winners of eighteen Olympic gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals...
, who is also a university and Olympic swimming coach, was inducted in 2005. Reese is also a member of the Longhorn Hall of Honor.
See also
- Auburn TigersAuburn TigersAuburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Olympians
- Texas Longhorns
External links
- Reese's bio from the University of Texas Athletics website.
- Floswimming Video Interviews with Eddie Reese