Norton Thornton (1933 – April 21, 2021) was the head coach of the California Golden Bears men's swimming and diving team at the University of California, Berkeley from 1974 until his retirement in 2007.

Early life and education

Born in 1933,^[1][2] Thornton earned a bachelor's degree in education from San Jose State University in 1956 and a master's degree from Stanford University.^[3]

Coaching career

Thornton began his career in Los Altos, California at Los Altos High School, where under him the team broke 13 national records out of 20, and Foothill Junior College, which under him became the top junior college swimming program in the United States.^[4] In 1960, he founded Foothill Aquatic Club; by 1974, when it was renamed to Los Altos Mountain View Aquatic Club, the club had produced national championship and Olympic swimmers.^[5]

He became head coach of the men's swimming and diving team at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1974 and remained for 33 seasons, retiring and becoming Head Coach Emeritus in 2007, when he was the longest-tenured coach at the university.^{[3][4][6][7][8]} The team's record in dual meets during his tenure was 231-85. They won NCAA Championships in 1979 and 1980, and were ranked in the top 10 in national polls in 28 seasons.^[3][6][7] In addition, during his tenure members of the team won 48 individual and relay NCAA championships and 108 Pac-10 individual, relay and diving championships,^[6][7] and 48 swimmers competed in the Olympics, winning 14 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze medals;^[7][8] two others won one gold and one silver medal after his retirement.^[7] The only previous Olympic medal won by a University of California, Berkeley swimmer was Ludy Langer's silver at the 1920 Olympics.^[4] Thornton pioneered recruitment of international athletes, and was also known for embracing new technology and methodologies.^[9]

In international competition, Thornton coached United States swimming teams at the 1979 FINA Synchronised Swimming World Cup and at the 1981 World University Games.^[7] He was a coach for the United States team at the 1992 Summer Olympics^[4] and an assistant coach at the 1983 Pan American Games, the 1986 FINA World Championships, the 1991 Pan Pacific Championships, and the 1998 FINA World Championships.^[7] He served as president of the American Swimming Coaches Association and on its board of directors, and was a member of the NCAA Rules Committee.^[7]

Awards

Thornton was twice voted National Coach of the Year two times, and four times Pac-10 coach of the year.^[4][6] He received the National Collegiate and Scholastic Award and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1995^{[3][4][6][10]} and the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.^[1][3][11]

Personal life and death

Thornton and his wife, Carla, had three children.^[10] His son Richard Thornton was an Olympic swimmer and national team coach.^[12]

Nort Thornton died on April 22, 2021, aged 87, after being hospitalized with heart disease.^{[1][3][4][11]}