Her former swimmers, however, recall Kelly as a powerful influence in their decision to continue coaching. "I have a great deal of respect for her and her ability to give everyone a little reinforcement," says Tyler.

That swimming continues to be a man's world is also evident. One female coach recalls being one of very few women present at the World Coaching Clinic and listening to a lecture on the role of the coach as a "father figure." Another young woman remembers sitting at a national meet in a row of coaches only to have the server of refreshments pass over her, mistakenly believing she was a wife or mother. Incidents like this commonly lead to the feeling of being "definitely misplaced," says Thornton.

Thornton adds. "The situation should change as younger women have more opportunities to get major jobs. Already many athletic teams prefer to hire women," adds Thorton.

Others are not so optimistic. Barkemen points to the increasing consolidation of men's and women's teams under male coaches, the increasing return of male coaches as women's collegiate swimming acquires a new intensity, and to the loss of other female coaches such as Kolb-Thomas. Pokey Richardson of the University of Southern California, and Susie Atwood, formerly at Ohio State.

Among the coaches themselves there is little doubt as to a woman's ability to coach and coach well--if she wants to badly enough. Indeed, Dick Jochums, coach of the University of Arizona men's team, says. "The best coach I ever had was a woman," referring to his early swimming years under Laura Kay Bookstaver.

The future of women coaches is uncertain. That they are capable is continuously demonstrated by those few women with both the talent and the determination to go against the flow. Barriers in terms of attitude and tradition remain to be overcome but, in Jochum's words, the bottom line is still. "When you start to win, people will flock to you, whether they like you or hate you, man or woman."

Because swimmers are in it to win