Eddie Sinnott, the former SMU Men’s Swimming Head Coach, passed away on Tuesday, February 20 at the age of 70.
Sinnott ’76 led SMU from 1989-2019. He was a student-athlete at SMU from 1972-76 and earned All-America honors in 1973 and 1974. As a 16-time conference Coach of the Year, he led the Mustangs to 16 league crowns, 11 NCAA top-15 finishes, 80 individual All-America honors, 59 relay honors and 288 conference championships.
SMU President R. Gerald Turner said, “Coach Sinnott won tremendous accolades over the life of his career and was a huge influence on his swimmers. We’re proud that he began his journey as a student swimmer at SMU, and will long remember his support for the men and women he coached and mentored.”
In 2019, Sinnott was selected by his peers for the National Collegiate Scholastic Trophy. The trophy is presented annually by both the CSCAA and the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) to the coach who, in the estimation of the recipient’s peers, has made the greatest contribution to swimming as a competitive sport and as a healthful, recreational activity in undergraduate and scholastic education.
Director of Athletics Rick Hart expressed, “It’s hard to put into words the impact Eddie Sinnott had on SMU. This was a man who spent more than 30 years on the Hilltop, from his time as a student-athlete through his decades-long coaching career. Coach led the SMU team and its individual swimmers to incredible heights collegiately, domestically and on the international stage, but more than that, he shaped the lives of hundreds of men and women here at SMU and throughout the swimming community.
“He will be missed by so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and daughters and the many who loved Eddie.”
Along with his success on the international level, Sinnott coached 11 student-athletes who competed in seven different Olympic Games. He also contributed to the sport by fundraising for the new Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium, teaching in the SMU swim lesson program, and being a leader in the Dallas swimming community.
Sinnott’s impact on the sport, however, extends well beyond his conference titles, Olympic Gold Medalists, and All-Americans. Sinnott was instrumental in fundraising for the new Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium. Beyond the college teams, Sinnott helped teach in the SMU swim lesson program for most of his 40 years on campus, and was a leader in the Dallas swimming community.
As a four-year letterwinner at SMU from 1973-76, Sinnott was the SWC champion in the 400 IM in 1973. He is survived by his wife, Sioux, and their two daughters K.C. and Silver Ann.
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