Women of
the Halls of Fame
Swimming Coach
Birthdate: June 30, 1951
Hometown: Lafayette, California
Year Inducted: 2000
Position: Coach
Gail began swimming at the young age of eight due to encouragement from her mother, who was a long-time swimming coach. This young exploration eventually led Gail to become one of the most successful swimming coaches of her time.
In 1972, Gail's national team won at the Munich Olympics. She had begun coaching these girls at the Walnut Creek Aquanuts, and her team won ten consecutive national championships under her renowned coaching skills.
In 1979, Gail was selected the United States National Team coach, a title that she retained for five Olympic cycles. She was the Olympic Coach & Manager for the 1984 Olympics and then served as the Olympic Head Coach in 1988, 1992, and 1996.
Gail has coached Olymmpic champions Karen and Sarah Josephson, Kristen Babb-Sprague, Charlotte Davis, and many other fantastic female Olympians. She coached girls who participated in every World Championship between the years of 1982 and 1988, and her United States team won seven out of the eighteen gold medals awarded during this time.
Gail is married with a young son named Scott and now coaches for Stanford University. She has held the Head Coaching position at that University since 1998, and during her first year brought Stanford to win the NCAA Championship, a feat that had been accomplished for that school only once before.
Gail's coaching skills have helped to create a number of champions, and without her assistance the world of swimming would not be quite as it is today.