Swimming has always been popular as a sport that calms body and mind and alleviates stress like no other. Looking beyond the basics, the sport has also given birth to names who have served the community all their lives and continue to do so. All this for the immense love they hold for their holy sport. Such a name made headlines recently, but unfortunately, he won’t be making news anymore.

Eddie Sinnott had served as the head coach of SMU for 30 years until he stepped down in 2019. Five years into retirement, he was still associated with the SMU as the ambassador. But at the age of 70, he took his last breath on February 20, 2024, leaving global fans mourning, especially his daughter KC Sinnott.

The swimming coach left his family heartbroken

Resorting to Instagram, daughter Sinnott penned a heartfelt eulogy for her late father, and we can feel the emotions flowing. The post reads, “Yesterday, my dad Eddie Sinnott took his last breath. I have yet to find words big enough to describe how deeply his absence will be felt”. Speaking of how she used to see her father, she added, “If I had to come up with one word to describe my dad, it would be community. He built and fostered communities wherever he went. Once you were ‘his’, he was fiercely protective”. 

He was a person who has coached athletes to win 80 individual All-America honors and 59 relay All-America honors, trained 2,300 kids through the Summer Swim Program. However unimaginable it sounds, her daughter’s words “He leaves behind a legacy of advocacy for swimming and his athletes”, can now be felt thoroughly. Stealing a glance at the storied career he boasted, some Olympians have also been under his guidance during heydays.

Sinnott’s illustrious career

Late Eddie Sinnott had 16 conference Coach of the Year honors under his belt. Not only that, he had anchored his team to 16 conference titles. Since 1992, 11 Olympic athletes received his guidance and went on to nab 7 medals across different disciplines. Sinnott coached swim titans Ryan Berube to Lars Frolander, who won 800 relay gold and 100m fly, respectively.

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Even both the swimmers’ NCAA Swimmer of the Year honors came in virtue of their coach. Someone who has never been anything less than a father figure also coached Team USA at the 1993 World University Games. Having been a swimmer himself, Sinnott earned All-America honors in both 1973 and 1974. Also a four-year letterwinner at SMU from 1973-76, his beloved college had kept him even after he retired from the pool. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the grieving family.

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