KEVIN A. THORNTON

2012 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Kevin started his career in R.I. as a USS Swimming Age Group at Little Rhody, Smithfield YMCA, Cumberland- Lincoln Boys Club and Cumberland Area Swim Team. He is credited with the development of many outstanding R.I., New England, Zone and Junior National Champions.

While at Brown University, as assistant coach, the Brown women won the Eastern Conference Championships. Kevin then attended URI and was the head coach for the distance swimmers and head coach of the USS Ram Swim Team. His University of Florida team placed in the top 15 finishes at the NCAA Division I Championships twice. From 1999 to 2011 Kevin coached the Greensboro women’s team that set records for the most wins in a season, 7 school swimming marks and has qualified individuals for the NCAA Division Ill Women’s Championships.

At Florida Aquatics, his women won the Long Course National Championship and the men placed fourth. Kevin was coach of the 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist, Allison Wagner World and American Record Holder.  He also held prestigious coaching positions within the US Swimming organization. Kevin was selected to the USS National Coaching Staff. He was both the men and women’s assistant coach for the 1993 and 1995 Pan Pacific Championships. At the 1994 World Championships, Kevin was lead coach for Suriname Swim Team and in 1992 at the South America Games he was the lead coach for Venezuela.

Kevin was selected as head coach of the USS National Team Altitude Training Camp for individual medley swimmers. He resides in North Carolina, coaching, concentrating on research in altitude training. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the “International Society of Swim Coaches”, an organization that keeps coaches current on training and strengthening modalities.