Frank Carroll was a figure skating coach who guided world-renowned skaters like Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek.
- Died: June 9, 2024 (Who else died on June 9?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Palm Springs, California of complications from cancer at the age of 85.
- We invite you to share condolences for Frank Carroll in our Guest Book.
Frank Carroll’s legacy
Carroll was a figure skater himself in his youth, learning to skate on an outdoor rink and going all the way to a bronze medal on the junior level of the U.S. Championships in 1959 and again in 1960. After that second victory, he went professional, skating with the Ice Follies for several years. He then attempted an acting career, but as he was struggling to land roles, he discovered coaching and made it his career.
Among his first notable students was Linda Fratianne, whom he coached to World Championship victories in 1977 and 1979, as well as a silver medal at the 1980 Olympics. Carroll and Fratianne believed she was robbed of the gold medal by biased judges, and he was so frustrated that he considered leaving the figure skating world. But he continued on, coaching many other successful skaters.
Carroll began coaching Michelle Kwan when she was just a preteen, guiding the explosive rise of her career. With his guidance, Kwan won four World Championships and a silver medal at the 1998 Olympics. His student Evan Lysacek won the 2009 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2010 Olympics. Other notable Carroll students included Christopher Bowman, Timothy Goebel, Denis Ten, and Gracie Gold.
Carroll was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. In 1997, he became the first figure skating coach named Olympic Coach of the Year.
Notable quote
“You know, people will say to me, ‘You made Michelle Kwan the most beautiful skater, the world champion!’ or ‘You made Evan Lysacek the Olympic champion!’ That is not true. I was there to guide them and to help them. They made themselves the world champion and Olympic champion. They had the guts; they had the passion; they had the ability. I was just there to direct and give them emotional support and encourage them.” — from a 2019 interview for Figure Skaters Online
Tributes to Frank Carroll
Full obituary: The Washington Post
