PHILLIP SAND HANSEL

Phill was the head chaperon on my first international trip for US Swimming to the World Championships in Guigui, Ecuador. Being a "rookie" and not knowing very much of the ins and outs of National Team procedure or policy I was totally lost and fortunately Phill helped me navigate through the training camp and the competition. The net result of Phill's help and guidance allowed me to avoid appearing like a complete idiot. His kindness and gentle ways of dealing with resolving complex issues...

It looks like the Coach was well remembered. I swam on the Shamrock team when I was around 12. Green speedo. I appreciated the comment about the work-outs. A skinny 12 year old kid swimming the Shamrock pool length wise back and forth, back and forth..., while Coach walked shirtless in his trunks. How did I ever make it through those? My mother would drop me off at 8 am, give me a dollar for a Shamburger, and pick me up at 5 pm. She should have made pasta every night for supper as...

In the early `70s shortly after the `72 Olympics, I asked Phil Hansel, Richard Quick, Pat Patterson, and Mark Spitz to join me at the Houston Jewish Community Center Swim Complex to conduct the first Southern States AAU Swimming Clinic. When it became apparent Mark could not come, Phil´s presence became particularly helpful to me and all of the many attendees. I´ll never forget how unselfish all of these coaches, especially Phil, were of their time and expertise. Rest In Peace Phil.

Phil and I met when he was Team Manager on my first international trip with USA Swimming in 1975. As a "Newby" I didn't have a clue as to what I was supposed to do or where to be, Phil with his normal genial self, made me feel at home and gently guided me through the process of being part of the "Total Team". We had since hooked up on several other trips and then locked horns when I took on the role as coach of the University of Texas when Phil was at the University of Huston. Phil not only...

I tried out for his team at UH in '72 as a walk-on for two weeks. His notion of a warm-up was twice as long as my idea of a workout and he wanted you to do it twice a day.

Six months later, his daughter, Ginger, recruited an intramural team called the David Weiner Defense Fund. We swept every event.

I think it was a way of reminding his failed walk-ons that we were always welcome to come back and give it one more try. He believed in people, even those who didn't always...

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Coach Phil Hansel was a wonderful man who inspired all of his swimmers. He was a positive influence on many kids in the swimming sport. I really enjoyed my years swimming at the Shamrock under his coaching. He will be well remembered by many who benefitted from his expertise.

To the Hansel family, from 1958 through 1964, the Shamrock, Bellaire High School, and Coach Hansel were my life. Coach Hansel was and will always be such an inspiration to me. I can remember our practices at the Shamrock when it was so cold he could almost lay into the wind, the weekend swim meets all over Texas, his humor, his firm instruction, him introducing me to the importance of "isometric" excercises at the age of 8, the annual award parties (Thank you Mr. House and your daughter...