SUNY Brockport swim coach Greg Kenney has a lot to smile about - he's coached the boys team at the college off and on for 27 years and the girls team eight years. Coach Kenney says, "My best memories concern the All-American swimmers I've coached; two placed in the top four nationally, and the number of conference champions from SUNY Brockport. A lot of our swimmers have gone on to be swim coaches and that gives me a good feeling. They've maintained their passion for the sport and passed it on to others." Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Greg Kenney:
26 years and
counting

Greg Kenney was a student and swimmer at SUNY Brockport before NASA landed a man on the moon. After graduating in 1966, he returned to his alma mater as the head coach of the swimming and diving program and, except for an eight-year hiatus in the late 1980s-early 1990s, has been there ever since. Including this season, which started at the beginning of November, that's 26 years.

"One driving force to return each year is the opportunity to work with young, enthusiastic swimmers and divers," said Kenney. "This helps me to keep thinking young. A second reason is the chance to share my passion and knowledge of the sport with a new group of athletes and hope that someday they will have a chance to do the same for future generations of swimmers and divers. So far, I have hundreds sharing all around the country."

Kenney swam in freestyle sprinter events while a student under Golden Eagle Hall of Fame coach Jim Fulton before turning to coaching. Two school records still stand from his first stint as coach in the 1970s in the backstroke. Kenney left coaching briefly to pursue his doctorate at the University of Buffalo and did his dissertation on the energetics of swimming.

"My coaching philosophy hasn't changed as much as the athletes have changed. My biggest change is trying to use a more scientific approach to training the team as a result of what I learned. I incorporate a larger percentage of high intensity work that simulates race conditions more closely, as opposed to a higher volume of yardage. I also gear my training more to the individuals and their races instead of a single training program for all to follow."

It's been eleven years since the Brockport resident returned to coaching in 1992, but the passion is still very obvious. "I was always taught by my parents to try to be the best at what I tried, no matter what job it was - the same philosophy I use while coaching and teaching. I returned because I knew I wanted to work with college athletes again. I knew there were many changes in technique and rules to adapt to, but the challenge was very inviting. I am still having fun and I want Brockport to return to the respected level we once enjoyed."

The Golden Eagles host Utica on Saturday, December 6 at 3 p.m.