Fred Lewis Sets the Gold Standard for Local Swimmers

When picturing world-class Olympic coaches, most people imagine rigid disciplinarians, guys who stand on the edge of the mat or pool, barking commands like a drill sergeant and controlling every aspect of training like an overprotective parent.

Then there's Fred Lewis.

A suntanned, soon-to-be 60-year-old who looks like he was born on a beach, Coach Fred is the antithesis of the prototypical Olympic coach. He's as relaxed as a retiree on a Sunday afternoon, at least when he's not in the middle of training.

He's soft spoken, at least when he isn't instructing his students on how many laps to swim or how many breaths to take during a time trial. Make no mistake, there's still an intensity and determination to win that drives every great coach, including Lewis. He just doesn't let it get the best of him.

Most noticeable, Coach Fred -- as he's known around North Shore Pool -- is content with his place in life: teaching and shaping young swimmers at a public pool. Lewis has no designs on being a high-profile adviser to celebrity swimmers. Nevertheless, his skill and single-mindedness is propelling some swimmers at the downtown pool toward Olympic dreams.

As head coach at the St. Petersburg Aquatics Center, located on scenic Beach Drive, next to Tampa Bay, Lewis has played a pivotal role in shaping the bodies, minds and futures of thousands of local swimmers and dozens of Olympic hopefuls since arriving here in 1988. 

He does this not just by training his swimmers to become world class athletes, but by preparing them for all the difficult trials life has to offer. Lewis works hard and seems to put ego aside, wearing his trademark loose T-shirts and observing from a distance until his picks up a megaphone to guide daily practices.

School takes precedent over pool at SPA. "If they don't get good grades, they don't get in the pool," Lewis says. "I might not always like it, but the parents and I are on the same page as far as that goes."

And when you're in charge of hundreds of young swimmers, from 4 to 24, the philosophy of "the smarter the swimmer, the less mistakes they make" transfers from the water to the classroom.

While the opportunity to run a facility brought him from the University of Pittsburgh, where he spent 19 years as a student, assistant and head coach, it's the quality of his swimmers and commitment of the community that has kept him. 

As one of the few publicly funded facilities to send so many qualifiers to the Olympic trials, SPA is recognized as one of the top five training centers in the country; last quadrennial alone Lewis' program sent seven swimmers to the trials. Lewis was one of the coaches for Nicole Haislett, the local legend who went on to win three Gold medals at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. 

This time around, four SPA swimmers - Melanie Margalis, Summer Finke, Tommy Wyher and Megan Romano - will make the trip to Omaha, Neb., in July 2012 to vie for the chance to represent their country at the Summer Games in London.

Each one credits Coach Fred for providing the guidance and training to propel them to this elite level of competition. Despite the glamor of world competition, Lewis remains pragmatic and a steady presence poolside.

"Fred doesn't always 'do' parents very well, but he is all about the kids," says Ronda Romano, Megan's mom. In fact, she says when Megan had to attend an Olympic qualifying event in 2008 ,despite contracting mononucleosis, Lewis insisted on going with her to help her get through the tough trial. 

But Coach Fred takes the accolades and adoration in stride. As we sit poolside wrapping up our interview, music begins blaring from speakers next door for a concert at Vinoy Park.

"Doesn't that bother you?" I ask him as he turns his head slightly to hear the sound a little better.

"Are you kidding?" he says with a wry smile. "It's one of the best parts of being down here."

That's a typical Coach Fred answer.