If the hardware hanging in coach Gregg Troy’s office isn’t enough to prove he’s accustomed to winning, the hardware around his swimmers’ necks should be.
Troy is entering his 14th season coaching the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams at Florida.
Counting his numerous individual accolades is a long, tiring process. He’s been named the Southeastern Conference Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year four times, the NCAA Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year three times, the NCAA Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year once and the U.S. Swimming Coach of the Year once.
On Sept. 7, Troy was inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame. When he accepted the award, Troy passed credit to his assistant coaches and athletes.
The Gators are led by a man who will forever be enshrined as one of the sport’s best. Even with his admittance into the Hall of Fame, Troy holds one honor above all — his time spent as the coach of the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s team.
“There’s a little different level of pressure and a little bit of anxiety that goes along with it,” Troy said. “(It’s) a good experience and a tremendous amount of fun. This is one where it’s fun more when you look back on it than while you were doing it.”
The U.S. brought home 104 medals at the 2012 Olympics, more than any other country. Thirty-one medals came from the swim team. The men’s team racked up 16 medals, eight of which were gold.
“The United States has a tradition of being the best swimming country,” Troy said. “ You don’t want that to fall under your own watch.”
Junior Elizabeth Beisel is a two-time Olympian for the U.S. and one of the top female swimmers in the SEC. She said Troy was a major reason why she chose to attend Florida.
“I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done,” Beisel said. “He’s gotten me to the Olympics and got me two medals.”
The Gators will participate in the third annual All-Florida Invitational today, and it will continue through Sunday in the O’Connell Center. The competition includes Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Miami, North Florida, Nova Southeastern and Rollins College.
The meet will give Florida a chance to gauge its strengths.
“It’s a real long season,” Troy said. “It’s extremely early to be swimming a meet, especially if it’s three days, but it gives you a real good feel for what you have on the team.”
Under coach Gregg Troy (above), Florida returns 11 All-Americans this season on the men’s team and two-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel to the women.
