INDIANAPOLIS – After more than two decades at the Universtiy of Indianapolis, head swimming and diving coach Gary Kinkead is hanging up his whistle.  The veteran coach is retiring after spending the previous 21 years leading the UIndy men's and women's swimming and diving programs.
 
As one of the longest tenured coaches in school history, Kinkead led the Greyhounds swimmers to a combined 27 top-20 finishes at the NCAA Division II Championships, including a program record sixth-place showing by the UIndy women in 2007.
 
A five-time recipient of the GLIAC Coach of the Year award, Kinkead has mentored 11 national champions, 13 Academic All-Americans and an amazing 557 First Team or Honorable Mention All-America performances at nationals.
 
When asked about his impact on the UIndy swimming and diving program, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Sue Willey said Kinkead focused on more than lap times and diving scores.
 
"Being a good coach at UIndy means that you improve the lives of student-athletes," Willey said. "Some coaches only care about the wins, but I think Gary cared about the total swimmer or diver, the total person.
 
"Priority No. 1 is academics, priority No. 2 is to reflect well on the program and priority No. 3 is to be a successful swimmer or diver, and Gary understood that."
 
Despite the success he and the Greyhounds have enjoyed since he took over in 1994-95, Kinkead believes this team can do more.
 
"I want my legacy of 21 years to go forward," he told the UIndy Reflector.  "I want to watch this program grow; I want to watch this program get better.  I want to be proud of what I've established, and I want to see the academics continue in the same vein."
 
Kinkead's future plans include a move to Canada to work with the American College Connection recruiting company and help prospective student-athletes find the right school to suit their needs.
 
"There are certain directions I want to pursue, and I felt like this was a great opportunity to do that," he expressed.
 
With a national search underway, UIndy will announce Kinkead's successor soon.