Richard Sybesma
Richard Sybesma grew up in the West Texas town of Andrews, where he was a two-time Texas state high school swimming qualifier in 1970-71. Richard swam for Texas Tech University from 1971-75 and was elected co-captain his junior and senior years. During those years he received the Team Spirit and Leadership Awards. His first coaching job brought him to Monahans, Texas, where a new indoor pool was just completed. The club and high school teams excelled, winning three 3A-and-under state titles. Richard was hired in 1979 as the head swim coach at TCU and held that position for 38 years, becoming the longest tenured head coach in school history. During his time at TCU, he earned five Conference Coach of the Year honors as well as was Coach of the Year for all Sports in Conference USA in 2004. He coached four Olympians, seven national champions, 18 all-Americans, and seven conference team championships. In 1996 he coached Walter Soza and the Nicaraguan Olympic team in Atlanta and in 2001 participated in the Olympic torch relay for the Salt Lake City games. Coach Sybesma earned his master’s degree in 1992 and has an endowed scholarship set up in his name at TCU. He received the Master Coach Award given by the College Swim Coaches Association. Richard has conducted clinics for NISCA and CSCAA. During his career he led the Horned Frogs in five different conferences: SWC, WAC, USA, MWC, and Big 12. During his time in Fort Worth, Richard was credited with giving back to the community by teaching more than 15,000 children through the learn-to-swim program at TCU. His program, Fort Worth Swimming Frogs, is credited for giving more than 4,000 swimming lessons to lower economic children through the Rainwater Foundation. Richard has two daughters, Courtney and Katy, and he and his wife Wendy have nine grandchildren.