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When Kevin Tyrrell ’92 began his swimming career at Lafayette 20 years ago, he never dreamed it would lead him to the Olympic Games. But this past summer in Beijing, he found himself in the visually stunning Water Cube coaching the United States Virgin Islands Swim Team.
“Staying in the Athletes Village and seeing famous athletes all around me was amazing,” he says. “I had the opportunity to have lunch next to Michael Phelps, ride a bus with NBA stars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Jason Kidd, and speak with tennis great Raphael Nadal. And these were just a few among many surreal experiences.”
“Walking on The Great Wall and through The Forbidden City were two highlights of the trip,” he adds. “For me as a coach, however, there was nothing better than conversing with coaches from around the world; I learned so much in such a short amount of time.”
Also spending time in the Water Cube was Greg Eggert ’79, media officer for United States Aquatic Sports. And Lafayette field hockey assistant coach Amy Tran excelled in Beijing as starting goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s field hockey team.
“The Olympics were an amazing experience for me, something I’ll be able to look back on and feel proud about for the rest of my life,” says Tran. “It was unbelievable to see so many athletes at the top of their game celebrating competition and finally seeing the hard work of four years pay off. Although I was a little disappointed to not finish better in the tournament, I gained so much from the experience.”
Tyrrell says his Olympic journey can be traced back to college. “I loved swimming and wanted to give others the same type of experience I had at Lafayette, so I went into coaching after graduation,” he explains.
He began as head coach for a YMCA and high school in Boston. Tyrrell later accepted a position at Harvard University, then became coach for the Virgin Islands, University of Virgin Islands, and St. Croix Dolphins swim teams. Since being hired in 2005, Tyrrell has participated in the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro and the World University Games in Bangkok. “I have also been fortunate enough to coach at regional championships in Jamaica, Aruba, Barbados, and Colombia, among others,” he says.
Of his early days at Lafayette, Tyrrell has nothing but fond memories.
“My education at Lafayette was much more than information presented in a classroom,” he says. “Skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to write and speak clearly and concisely have helped me tremendously throughout my coaching career. Jim Dailey, my Lafayette swimming coach, played a big part in my personal and professional development. I also credit Lafayette’s academic excellence and focus on work ethic in preparing me for graduate school.”
“I am thankful for the experience and connections I made at Lafayette,” adds Tyrrell, who earned a master’s in education at Boston University. “Wherever I am in the world, I am reminded of the College and the people that touched my life. Just this past summer, I was at a swim meet in Jamaica, and this man came up to me and said, ‘Did you go to Lafayette?’ I’m sure this will continue for the rest of my life, and I love it.”