Passages: Frank Busch, Former Arizona and USA Swimming Coach, 75
Frank Busch, who coached the University of Arizona to NCAA titles and served as the National Team Director for USA swimming at a pair of Olympics, died on Sunday. He was 75 years old. Busch collapsed from a heart attack at the Phoenix airport, according to a report by the Arizona Daily Star. He was returning from a fishing trip.
Busch was hired as Arizona’s swimming coach in 1989 and served in that capacity through 2011. He won national coach of the year awards six times and was 11 times voted the Pac-10 Coach of the Year. Busch was hired by USA Swimming, where he was the director of the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic teams.
“USA Swimming mourns the passing of Frank Busch, a beloved coach, leader, mentor, and friend whose impact on our sport spanned generations. He dedicated his life to swimming and to the people within it, leaving an immeasurable impact on athletes, coaches, and the USA Swimming community. Frank will be deeply missed,” USA Swimming posted on social media.
- READ: Frank Busch: Leaving A Lasting Legacy, from 2017
At Arizona, Busch led the Wildcats to 25 top-five finishes at NCAAs. It included both the men’s and women’s team titles in 2008. He coached 48 individual NCAA champions and 31 relay championships.
Busch was hired by USA Swimming in 2011, the third full-time occupant of the National Team Director role originated in 1989 by Dennis Pursley. He led the team at the London and Rio Olympics, retiring from the role in 2017. The Americans brought home 64 Olympic medals from those Games.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, a quartet of Busch-mentored athletes captured the gold medal for South Africa in the 400 freestyle relay. The contingent of Ryk Neethling, Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns and Darian Townsend combined for that historic achievement, all coached by Busch at Arizona.
“Coach Busch is a coaching icon in swimming circles, and his impact stretches throughout our sport, from the club level to the college level to the Olympics,” Arizona swimming and diving head coach Ben Loorz said. “Our program wouldn’t be where it is today without the foundation he created. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.”
Busch was inducted to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 and is a member of the America Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame.