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307:
individual, relay and diving championships, Forty-eight of his swimmers competed in the
Olympics, winning 14 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze medals; two others won one gold and one silver medal after his retirement. The only previous Olympic medal won by a University of California, Berkeley swimmer was
291:
Thornton became head coach of the men's swimming and diving team at the
University of California, Berkeley, in 1974 and remained for 33 seasons, retiring and becoming Head Coach Emeritus in 2007, when he became the longest-tenured coach at the university. In his early years with U. Cal Berkeley, he
27:
258:
In 1960, he founded
Foothill Aquatic Club, which he coached through 1974, when it was renamed the Los Altos Mountain View Aquatic Club. By 1960, Thornton had produced national championship and Olympic swimmers. He left Foothill Aquatic club in 1974 to help coach University of California's Concord
250:
swim programs in the United States. Inheriting a team that had great potential, by his 1962 season, Thornton had eight team members with All-American honors in the prep school league, and two that had been on the Junior
College All-America team in the 1961 season. At Foothill, he led his teams to
431:, who swam for him at U. Cal Berkeley, was a founder and long serving coach for the San Ramon Valley Swim Club, an Olympic Swim team member in 1980, and a national team coach. Richard died in January 2024, in a drowning accident after suffering from multiple myloma, a blood disease.
201:
from 1974 through 2007, where he led the team to NCAA national championships in 1979 and 1980. Formerly, he coached
Northern California's Los Altos High School, Los Altos Swim Club and Foothill Junior College, leading them to national recognition from 1956 through 1974.
850:
351:. More recently, he worked with Patrick O'Neil, who won the 200-yard butterfly at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Among other more recent Olympians, he coached world record holder
415:
Thornton was twice voted
National Coach of the Year, and four times Pac-10 coach of the year. He received the National Collegiate and Scholastic Award and was inducted into the
303:
in 1979 and 1980, and were ranked in the top 10 in national polls in 28 seasons. During his tenure, members of the team won 48 individual and relay NCAA championships and 108
1216:
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443:
144:
1123:
617:
843:
316:. Thornton pioneered recruitment of international athletes, and was also known for embracing new technology and methodologies. He was involved in recruiting
279:, a three-time Olympic finalist. Thornton also trained European champions from Sweden, Peter Fiel and Ingmar Ericksson. Australian swimmer and 1972 Olympian
109:
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89:
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234:, where under his direction the team broke 13 national records out of 20, and won four straight Northern CIF titles by 1960.
400:
152:
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859:
380:
313:
737:
818:
708:
416:
165:
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198:
396:
388:
348:
635:
267:
Outstanding swimmers coached by
Thornton before he began at U. Cal Berkeley included 1960 and 1964 Olympian
376:
428:
1206:
515:
211:
65:
961:
823:
778:
384:
275:, a '64 Olympic medalist in the 100 freestyle who swam for Foothill Junior College, and Canadian
194:
1057:
1037:
1016:
344:
268:
227:
434:
Nort
Thornton died on April 22, 2021, aged 87, after being hospitalized with heart disease.
359:, who won the gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He coached
1186:
1181:
824:
Faraudo, Jeff, Sports
Illustrated, "Cal Swimming: Legendary Coach Nort Thornton Dies at 87"
8:
215:
70:
299:
The U. Cal. Berkeley team's record in dual meets during his tenure was 231-85. They won
1107:
618:"Passages: Hall of Fame Cal Coach Nort Thornton Dies at 87; Produced Olympic Champions"
300:
553:"Longtime head coach Nort Thornton, who led Cal swimming to 2 NCAA titles, dies at 87"
173:
677:
930:
371:
In international competition, Thornton coached United States swimming teams at the
340:
243:
1047:
828:
1102:
1092:
1082:
1011:
900:
332:
251:
eight national swimming titles, and five state Junior
College championships in
247:
1175:
1160:
1144:
1133:
1087:
1072:
1021:
1001:
981:
976:
935:
925:
905:
478:
360:
356:
336:
292:
helped with the Water Polo team, and the Concord Swim Club, coached by Cal's
210:
Born in 1933, Thornton earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from
99:
757:"Staying power/ Four Bay Area coaches buck trend of jumping from job to job"
1062:
1052:
996:
971:
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956:
940:
915:
276:
1138:
1097:
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910:
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as a Cal swimming coach who would continue his legacy beginning in 2007.
317:
309:
293:
280:
26:
1077:
1067:
991:
272:
252:
78:
986:
950:
883:
798:"U.S. Olympian, Bay Area swim coach died by drowning, autopsy finds"
363:, who took silver in the 50-meter free at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
323:
Outstanding Olympians coached by Thornton included U.S. team member
304:
16:
University of California men's swimming and diving head coach
713:
California Golden Bears Athletics, Men's Swimming and Diving
502:
California Golden Bears Athletics, Men's Swimming and Diving
589:"Foothill College Swim Squad Loaded With Former AA Stars",
444:
List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
427:
Thornton and his wife, Carla, had three children. His son
283:
trained at the Foothill Aquatic Club during High School.
779:"Cal Swimming: Legendary Coach Nort Thornton Dies at 87"
403:
and on its board of directors, and was a member of the
343:
and freestyle sprinter and 1992 Olympic gold medalist
262:
246:, where the team became one of the most highly rated
1217:
Junior college swimming coaches in the United States
676:. Times Wire Services. July 27, 2007. Archived from
419:
in 1995 and the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
379:. He was a coach for the United States team at the
858:
576:"Foothill Aquatics Coach Wins Call Swimming Job",
193:(1933 – April 21, 2021) was the head coach of the
1212:High school swimming coaches in the United States
498:"Former Cal Head Coach Nort Thornton Passes Away"
1173:
593:, Palo Alto, California, 1 February 1962, pg. 22
214:in 1956 and a Master's degree in Education from
735:
844:
795:
754:
580:, Berkeley, California, 19 April 1974, pg. 14
776:
550:
366:
259:Swim Club, formerly coached by Pete Cutino.
205:
851:
837:
611:
609:
607:
605:
603:
601:
599:
572:
570:
568:
566:
422:
286:
25:
615:
492:
490:
488:
373:1979 FINA Synchronised Swimming World Cup
226:Thornton began his career around 1956 in
1202:California Golden Bears swimming coaches
731:
729:
596:
563:
546:
544:
542:
540:
538:
536:
471:"Nort Thornton (USA): 1995 Honor Coach"
465:
463:
461:
459:
327:, and Swedish Olympic team freestylers
242:From 1960 to 1974, Thornton coached at
1174:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
691:
689:
687:
485:
197:men's swimming and diving team at the
832:
772:
770:
640:Los Altos Mountain View Athletic Club
401:American Swimming Coaches Association
271:, 100-meter freestyle record holder,
726:
709:"Nort Thornton, Head Coach Emeritus"
664:
662:
660:
658:
656:
533:
456:
684:
670:"Thornton decides to call it quits"
520:Los Altos High School Class of 1962
475:International Swimming Hall of Fame
417:International Swimming Hall of Fame
166:International Swimming Hall of Fame
13:
882:
796:Jordan Parker (January 17, 2024).
767:
738:"Long-time coach Thornton is gone"
508:
263:Outstanding swimmers prior to 1974
221:
199:University of California, Berkeley
14:
1233:
874:1992 United States Olympic Trials
812:
736:John Crumpacker (July 27, 2007).
653:
170:Cal Athletics Hall of Fame (2010)
1222:San Jose State University alumni
399:. He served as president of the
789:
777:Jeff Faraudo (April 22, 2021).
748:
551:Steve Kroner (April 22, 2021).
347:. He coached Canadian Olympian
860:1992 USA Olympic swimming team
755:Ron Kroichick (May 19, 2002).
628:
583:
393:1991 Pan Pacific Championships
383:and an assistant coach at the
1:
449:
397:1998 FINA World Championships
389:1986 FINA World Championships
616:Andy Ross (April 22, 2021).
516:"In Memory: Norton Thornton"
7:
1197:American water polo coaches
591:The Peninsula Times Tribune
437:
237:
10:
1238:
133:Accomplishments and honors
1192:American swimming coaches
1116:
1030:
893:
880:
866:
410:
367:International competition
212:San Jose State University
184:
180:
164:
159:
149:8 national junior college
142:
137:
132:
124:
119:
115:
105:
95:
85:
76:
66:San Jose State University
61:
46:
38:
33:
24:
206:Early life and education
57:April 21, 2021 (aged 87)
802:San Francisco Chronicle
761:San Francisco Chronicle
742:San Francisco Chronicle
557:San Francisco Chronicle
423:Personal life and death
385:1983 Pan American Games
287:U. California, Berkeley
230:, coaching swimming at
195:California Golden Bears
1038:Crissy Ahmann-Leighton
887:
377:World University Games
886:
636:"Mission and History"
232:Los Altos High School
228:Los Altos, California
1147:(women's head coach)
578:The Berkeley Gazette
481:on February 4, 2021.
381:1992 Summer Olympics
120:Head coaching record
34:Biographical details
216:Stanford University
191:Norton Thornton Jr.
71:Stanford University
21:
1141:(men's head coach)
1108:Angie Wester-Krieg
888:
819:California profile
783:Sports Illustrated
674:Contra Costa Times
301:NCAA Championships
19:
1169:
1168:
1151:Richard Shoulberg
680:on March 4, 2016.
504:. April 22, 2021.
407:Rules Committee.
312:'s silver at the
188:
187:
176:Coach of the Year
90:Los Altos HS (CA)
77:Coaching career (
1229:
1207:Foothill College
931:Lawrence Frostad
853:
846:
839:
830:
829:
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561:
560:
548:
531:
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512:
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494:
483:
482:
477:. Archived from
467:
429:Richard Thornton
341:Thomas Lejdstrom
244:Foothill College
128:231–85 (college)
56:
54:
29:
22:
18:
1237:
1236:
1232:
1231:
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1112:
1048:Nicole Haislett
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369:
289:
265:
240:
224:
222:Coaching career
208:
171:
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150:
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145:NCAA Division I
69:
62:Alma mater
52:
50:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1136:
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1120:
1118:
1114:
1113:
1111:
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1105:
1103:Janie Wagstaff
1100:
1095:
1093:Jenny Thompson
1090:
1085:
1083:Summer Sanders
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1034:
1032:
1028:
1027:
1025:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1012:Melvin Stewart
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
984:
979:
974:
969:
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954:
953:(team captain)
948:
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
901:Mike Barrowman
897:
895:
891:
890:
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813:External links
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627:
622:Swimming World
595:
582:
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333:Pelle Holmertz
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248:junior college
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1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1179:
1177:
1162:
1161:Jon Urbanchek
1159:
1157:
1156:Nort Thornton
1154:
1152:
1149:
1146:
1145:Mark Schubert
1143:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1134:Richard Quick
1132:
1130:
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1125:
1124:Mike Hastings
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1121:
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1088:Ashley Tappin
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1073:Angel Martino
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1002:Tripp Schwenk
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982:Eric Namesnik
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977:Pablo Morales
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965:
963:
962:Dan Jorgensen
960:
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952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
936:Doug Gjertsen
934:
932:
929:
927:
926:Nelson Diebel
924:
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912:
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907:
906:David Berkoff
904:
902:
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869:
867:Qualification
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840:
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398:
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386:
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378:
375:and the 1981
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364:
362:
361:Duje Draganja
358:
357:Anthony Ervin
354:
350:
346:
342:
338:
337:Par Arvidsson
334:
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321:
319:
315:
314:1920 Olympics
311:
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146:
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138:Championships
136:
131:
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123:
118:
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111:
108:
104:
101:
98:
94:
91:
88:
84:
81:unless noted)
80:
75:
72:
67:
64:
60:
49:
45:
41:
37:
32:
28:
23:
20:Nort Thornton
1155:
1129:Chris Martin
1068:Lea Loveless
1063:Megan Kleine
1058:Jill Johnson
1053:Erika Hansen
1031:Women's Team
1022:Dave Wharton
997:Roque Santos
972:Sean Killion
967:Ron Karnaugh
957:Shaun Jordan
941:Joe Hudepohl
916:Greg Burgess
801:
791:
782:
760:
750:
741:
716:. Retrieved
712:
678:the original
673:
643:. Retrieved
639:
630:
621:
590:
585:
577:
556:
523:. Retrieved
519:
510:
501:
479:the original
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433:
426:
414:
370:
355:at Cal, and
349:Graham Smith
322:
298:
290:
277:Ralph Hutton
266:
257:
241:
225:
209:
190:
189:
1187:2021 deaths
1182:1933 births
1139:Eddie Reese
1098:Dara Torres
1043:Janet Evans
1017:Joel Thomas
1007:Royce Sharp
946:Scott Jaffe
921:Hans Dersch
911:Matt Biondi
645:January 18,
525:January 18,
353:Matt Biondi
345:Joel Thomas
329:Bengt Baron
325:Peter Rocca
318:Dave Durden
310:Ludy Langer
294:Pete Cutino
281:Shane Gould
269:Steve Clark
155:(1957–1960)
151:4 Northern
147:(1979–1980)
1176:Categories
1078:Anita Nall
992:Jeff Rouse
894:Men's Team
718:18 January
450:References
395:, and the
273:Gary Ilman
253:water polo
110:California
53:2021-04-21
987:Jon Olsen
951:Tom Jager
106:1974–2007
96:1960–1974
86:1956–1960
438:See also
238:Foothill
100:Foothill
1117:Coaches
125:Overall
411:Awards
391:, the
387:, the
339:, and
305:Pac-10
174:Pac-10
168:(1995)
160:Awards
68:(1956)
720:2024
647:2024
527:2024
405:NCAA
47:Died
42:1933
39:Born
296:.
255:.
172:4×
153:CIF
1178::
800:.
781:.
769:^
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740:.
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672:.
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500:.
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458:^
335:,
331:,
218:.
143:2
79:HC
852:e
845:t
838:v
804:.
785:.
763:.
744:.
722:.
649:.
624:.
559:.
529:.
55:)
51:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
