Skip Kenney
Encyclopedia
Allen "Skip" Kenney is an American college swimming
and diving
coach, currently coaching at Stanford University
as the head coach of its swimming team. He coached teams to conference titles 27 years in a row, an American college record. He broke the Pac-10 Conference record for consecutive titles for any sport with his 14 titles. The Pacific 10 conference named Kenney Pac-10 Coach of the Year 17 times in the span of 23 years.
Kenney has also coached on the international circuit. He was appointed the men's coach for the U.S. team at the 2004 Short Course World Championships
. He served as head coach of the United States Men's Swimming Team
at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and assistant coach at both the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games.
Kenney is a member of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the International Swimming Hall of Fame
.
On March 9, 2007, Kenney was suspended indefinitely, with pay, by Stanford after admitting to removing entries for records set by five swimmers that he had disagreements (Jason Plummer
, Michael McLean, Tobias Oriwol, Rick Eddy, Peter Carothers) with from the Stanford swimming team's media guide
. The team was coached, on an interim basis, by associate head coach Ted Knapp. On April 20, 2007, Stanford announced that Kenney would serve a 60 day suspension without pay and then return to his position as head coach. Kenney issued an apology to the Stanford community.
Kenney served in the United States Marine Corps
, in combat in Vietnam
for 13 months in 1965 to 1966; four months were spent as a sniper. He says that he draws on his service in the Marine Corps in his coaching. "Whether you are racing or in combat, for you to be at your best, your mind takes over and your body follows. Your expectations rise.
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
coach, currently coaching at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
as the head coach of its swimming team. He coached teams to conference titles 27 years in a row, an American college record. He broke the Pac-10 Conference record for consecutive titles for any sport with his 14 titles. The Pacific 10 conference named Kenney Pac-10 Coach of the Year 17 times in the span of 23 years.
Kenney has also coached on the international circuit. He was appointed the men's coach for the U.S. team at the 2004 Short Course World Championships
2004 FINA Short Course World Championships
The 7th FINA Short Course World Championships were held at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA from October 7 through October 11, 2004.-Freestyle:-Backstroke:-Breaststroke:-Butterfly:-Individual:-Relay:-Metal Table:...
. He served as head coach of the United States Men's Swimming Team
USA Swimming
USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. It is charged with selecting the United States Olympic Swimming team and any other teams which officially represent the United States, as well as the overall organization and operation of the sport within the...
at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and assistant coach at both the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games.
Kenney is a member of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
.
On March 9, 2007, Kenney was suspended indefinitely, with pay, by Stanford after admitting to removing entries for records set by five swimmers that he had disagreements (Jason Plummer
Jason Plummer (swimmer)
Jason Robert Plummer is a former Australian freestyle swimmer, who competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.Plummer was a member of the St. Peters Swim Club in Brisbane. At the 1985 National Championships he won silver in 400, 800 and 1500 metre freestyle finishing behind fellow Queenslander...
, Michael McLean, Tobias Oriwol, Rick Eddy, Peter Carothers) with from the Stanford swimming team's media guide
Media guide
A media guide is a sports-related press kit, distributed as a book or binder, and published by American sporting teams before the start of the sporting season. It features information relating to the team players, history, statistical records and other similar items...
. The team was coached, on an interim basis, by associate head coach Ted Knapp. On April 20, 2007, Stanford announced that Kenney would serve a 60 day suspension without pay and then return to his position as head coach. Kenney issued an apology to the Stanford community.
Kenney served in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, in combat in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
for 13 months in 1965 to 1966; four months were spent as a sniper. He says that he draws on his service in the Marine Corps in his coaching. "Whether you are racing or in combat, for you to be at your best, your mind takes over and your body follows. Your expectations rise.