Bob Platt, the head director of operations and National Group Assistant at the Scottsdale Aquatic Club in Scottsdale, Arizona has died. He was 58.
One colleague of Platt’s tells SwimSwam that he died in his sleep early Saturday morning. No cause of death has been publicized.
Among Platt’s biggest achievements in the sport was an appointment as the assistant manager of the US team at the 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships.
Platt is a native of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and moved to Arizona in September of 2004. In the fall of 2012, Bob joined the coaching staff Scottsdale Aquatic Club.
Bob attended the University of Maryland, College Park before graduating from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. During his time at Temple University, Bob participated in a year-long marketing internship with both General Motors and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
As a full time college student, Platt began his swim coaching career at a small community team outside of Philadelphia before being recruiting to be an assistant coach for Germantown Academy Aquatic Club under the direction of Dick Shoulberg.
While an assistant coach at Germantown Academy Aquatic Club, Bob had the experience of helping to place 4 men on the 1992 USA Olympic Swim Team. In the fall of 1992 Bob began his career as a head coach at Spirit Swimming in Newtown, Pennsylvania and would remain as the head coach for the next 12 years. In that time, the team grew from 24 athletes to 120 athletes.
After the 2004 Olympic Trials, Bob moved to Arizona where he became the Senior Program Director at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear, AZ.
Bob’s volunteer and community involvement included supporting such non-profits as the American Cancer Society of Philadelphia, The AIDS Fund of Philadelphia, 1n10 of Phoenix and he is currently on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS.
Swimming Community Reacts
As news of Platt’s death spread throughout the swimming community, there has been an outpouring of love from the swimming community, and especially his coaching peers.
University of Virginia associate head coach Tyler Fenwick, who swam with Platt at Germantown Academy, lauded Platt’s willingness to fight for marginalized groups in the sport.
“Bob would be the first to tell you he was gay,” Fenwick said. “He was proud of who he was and ensured that gay coaches had an advocated, confidant, and friend in the sport.
“But it extended beyond being gay. He fought for minorities, women, and anyone he felt needed his strength. He wanted people to know they belonged, could thrive, and lead, no matter who they were. He provided a massive boost of confidence to those who needed it most. I loved him for that!”
Keith Kennedy, another swim coach, said “you brought so much joy to everyone you ever spoke to on and off deck.”
Olympic gold medalist David Berkoff, father of Olympic medalist Katharine Berkoff and head coach of Team Eugene Aquatics, said he was still in shock from the news.
“I knew Bob for over 45 years from summer club kid to GA assistant to elite-level club coach,” David Berkoff said. “He was someone I could always count on for coaching advice and was one of those few coaches who placed his athletes’ happiness and well-being first. He’s one of the reasons I got into coaching as a full time professional. Like many, I am going to miss my friend.”
Everything said about Bob could not be more true, and there could be thousand more testimonies to how great of a coach and a person Bob was. We had the privilege of having our 3 swimmers train with Bob for many years. He made them better swimmers, but more importantly better persons. As our family reflects on the impact Bob had on our lives, we are heartbroken to know we will not get to see his smiling face on the pool deck, his loud cheering voice when swimmer get on the block, and his care for how well each one of us is going. We will miss you Bob!!!
Bobby was one of my best friends growing up. As young age-groupers he was the most passionate in our group about swimming. Even though we all swam, Bobby was always interested in those who swam at the highest level and helping young swimmers improve. It’s so wonderful to read the many many comments about the positive impact he had on his swimmers, families and fellow coaches and to know he was able to live a life of contribution in the sport he truly loved. Clearly his presence on and off the deck will be greatly missed. RIP
The world—particularly the swimming world—lost a really great man. I truly don’t know how he did it, but Bob Platt was a great coach, a great mentor, and a really great all around human. I am so shocked and saddened to hear that he’s gone.
I think back to the times he pushed me to work harder and to be better—and I can honestly say that despite how often I probably rolled my eyes at him (or the times when I had an attitude or even yelled at him), I was a better swimmer because of him. And I’m a better person because of him.
Bob had the best sense of humor—even if I did spend a Saturday… Read more »
Bob saw things in you before you could see them in yourself. He was always the happiest guy on pool deck. Going to miss him!
Bob has been coaching me for years and I stayed in touch with him when I went off to college. He was the best role model I could have ever asked for. His willingness to coach anyone who came to his pool deck was incredible. His way of coaching athletes and shaping them into the best versions of themselves is something incredibly hard to find. I’ve shared so much laughter with him, he also always provided a shoulder to cry on if something went wrong. I always had a hard time opening up to coaches but never to Bob, you could always say anything to him and he would be there for you unconditionally. The family at SAC will be… Read more »
Damn – I swam with Bob in high school. He was one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet.
Swam with Bobby at Maple Manor Swim Club in Maple Glen, Pa. We had SO much fun!!! Was a few years behind him in HS at Upper Dublin but spent my summers swimming with him. Haven’t seen him in years but know he was doing great things in the swimming world and otherwise! RIP Bobby! Keep swimming and coaching up there! You will be missed!
Disbelief and sincere dismay to hear of Bob’s passing. I shared the pool deck with Bob for twelve years @ Spirit and saw firsthand the dedication and emotional investment he gave to the athletes under his tutelage. Others will attest to his compassion, sense of humor, patience and empathy. For me, it was his willingness to listen and learn not just from his athletes but also from his peers. He put his ego aside to allow our athletes to learn and experience other coaches and different practice regimens. For Bob, every day was an opportunity to learn his craft and to pass it onto his athletes.
Our sport was and is better because Bob Platt was part of it.… Read more »
Well said Bruce 🙂 Thankful to have been coached by both of you at Spirit!
Bob was a good guy and excellent coach. He will be missed.