George Frederick Haines

HAINES, George Frederick


Competitor, educator, coach and patriot, the World of Swimming is mourning Coach George Frederick Haines, foremost producer of Olympic Champions in the history of competitive swimming, who passed away on May 1, 2006, in Carmichael, Calif., after four years of suffering the aftermath of a severe stroke - but none will miss him more than his family.

During his successful coaching career, George Haines witnessed over 50 years of modern swimming history and was often an important part of it. The Haines saga started in Huntington, in northeast central Indiana, where George was born on March 9, 1924, the son of George Fremont Haines and Frances Mae Mow. George's competitive swimming career began at the Huntington, Ind., YMCA in 1932 under the guidance of coach Glenn Hummer, coach-mentor at the local YMCA, who was also the high school biology teacher. In the 1940s, George Haines was a member of the Huntington YMCA swim team that Hummer coached to two YMCA National Championships. Glen Hummer was a strong influence in developing George Haines' interest in competitive swimming, and in the shaping of his character.

George Haines enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, on Dec. 12, 1942, at the age of 18. For two years, Haines taught swimming survival skills at the Crystal Plunge pool in San Francisco to Marines and Merchant Marines who were going overseas. He later served on the U.S.S. Casper, which sailed out under the Golden Gate Bridge exactly when World War II ended, hearing shouts from the wharf-side crowds that the war was over! He received his honorable discharge on Feb. 12, 1946. Demobilized from the Coast Guard, Haines attended college on the GI bill, graduating from San Jose State University in 1950 with a Bachelors Degree and a teaching certificate. He later earned an additional certificate in Administration. While at San Jose State, Haines became the conference champion in the 50 freestyle.

On July 20, 1945, in Oakland, Calif., George Haines married June Elizabeth Carter. Their partnership was to last more than 60 years. They had four daughters, Kerry Derr (Walter), Janice Canfield (Robert), Jody Baer, and Paula Baldwin (Randy), and one son, George Kyle Haines. They had nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Haines began his 24-year teaching and coaching career at Santa Clara High School in 1950. He was hired to teach physical education and to coach football and later swimming and water polo. When the high school completed its pools in 1951, George Haines started his first swim team with nine members. Before long, his high school boys' swim team became the team to beat, both locally and nationally. At one time, his high school swimmers owned the national record in every event. The Santa Clara Swim Club grew out of the original nine high school swimmers to become one of the most prominent and successful teams in the United States and in the world. After leaving Santa Clara High School in 1974, Haines went on to coach at UCLA and ended his coaching career at Stanford University.

Between 1960 to 1988, George Haines, coaching maestro of California's mighty Santa Clara swim team, produced a total of 53 Olympic swimmers, who won 44 gold medals, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals. Enshrined with Haines in the International Swimming Hall of Fame are fifteen Santa Clara Club swimmers, more than from any other club. George Haines was three times head coach of the United States Olympic swimming team, and served on the support staff of four other Olympic squads. He was head coach of the United States team to the 1978 World Championships in West Berlin, a team considered the most successful in United States Swimming history in terms of medals won.

In retirement, Haines continued to feed his competitive urges by playing and managing Senior Softball with teams in Sacramento and Sun City Roseville. His teams went on to win "World Series" championships twice in the over-65 age groups. His daily activities included golfing with friends and grandsons.

In addition to his wife and children, George Haines is survived by his brothers Richard, Schuyler, and Edward, all of Indiana, and a sister, Eva Ervin of Arizona. He was predeceased by a brother, William, and sisters Clara Bir, and Esther Patten. George Haines will be truly missed by his wife, children, friends and colleagues.

There will be no services but donations can be made to Huntington YMCA, 607 Warren St., Huntington, IN 46750.