Eddie Sinnott: A Mustang through and through

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

A Mustang Through and Through
Eddie Sinnott (by Sioux Sinnott, Steve Collins, and Jim Stillson)

Doing what you love every single day and making a difference in countless people’s lives is what many would consider a dream.

Unfortunately, not every person gets the chance to live out that dream.

Eddie Sinnott did.

Sinnott spent 30 years at SMU as the men’s head swimming coach before retiring in 2019. Under Sinnott, SMU recorded 11 NCAA top-15 finishes, 80 individual All-American honors, 59 relay honors, and 288 conference championships.

In addition to all the success and accolades, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, and mentor whose impact left an indelible impression on the young men he was blessed to coach.

A posthumous inductee into the 2024 SMU Hall of Fame, there wasn’t anyone who loved SMU more than Sinnott. He bled blue and red for almost the entirety of his adult life, and his legacy will live on forever at his alma mater and the lives he touched there.

While accomplishments are extraordinary and will stand the test of time, they don’t tell the full story of who the 16-time conference Coach of the Year was outside of the pool.

A man and a life that will never be forgotten.

What made him special
No one knew Sinnott better than his loving wife, Sioux. Of all the characteristics that made Sinnott the man and coach he was, she’ll never forget his loud voice.

“Eddie had this booming voice that could command a room,” said Sioux. “When he talked, his swimmers and divers really didn’t have any other choice but to listen because of how loud he could project his voice.”

Sinnott’s colleague and close friend, Jim Stillson, echoed those sentiments of not only commanding a presence, but being someone the kids could relate to.

“He had this amazing ability to relate to his kids and encourage them to exceed any limitations they put on themselves, which is something that all great coaches have in common,” said Stillson. “It didn’t matter if they were the last guy on the team struggling to make the squad or the next future Olympian. He related to everyone.”

Sinnott was also heavily involved with the diving program, something that immediately gained Stillson’s respect.

“I was the head diving coach and Eddie was the head swimming coach, so I didn’t expect him to work with my divers that much since he was already overwhelmed with his swimmers,” said Stillson. “But to my amazement, he was very engaged. He always went out of his way to make my divers feel a part of the team, like we were one big family. I can promise you that’s incredibly rare in college swimming and diving across the country.”

Steve Collins, another colleague and friend who served as the head women’s swimming coach at SMU for 37 years, believes Sinnott’s brilliant mind and passion for teaching are what made him stand out.

“This guy was an expert about everything, and he was truly a joy to listen to,” said Collins. “He was such a great teacher. Whether it was a swim lesson program or working with Olympians on technique, no task was too big or small for him because he just wanted to see people succeed. That’s what made him so much fun to be around.”

"He had this amazing ability to relate to his kids and encourage them to exceed any limitations they put on themselves, which is something that all great coaches have in common," said Stillson. "It didn't matter if they were the last guy on the team struggling to make the squad or the next future Olympian. He related to everyone."
Bringing people together

Sinnott was able to create a lifetime’s worth of memories doing what he loved and was so passionate about, but few memories are greater than the 1996 Olympics.

In the 4×200 meter relay, two of the best swimmers Sinnott ever coached were going up against each other: Ryan Berube with the US and Lars Frolander with Sweden. This created a moment that Sioux will forever cherish.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” said Sioux. “Sweden was ahead, but then Ryan dove in as the final leg and was able to take the lead and give the US the victory, which made for an incredible night. After the race, Ryan and Lars hugged, and not long after, Eddie came up behind them and joined in. To see three men not only representing their countries, but the love they had for each other and SMU, that meant the world for me to witness that.”

It’s also the memories he helped create beyond the pool that his closest friends remember the most.

“The family atmosphere he created was amazing and second to none,” said Collins. “Sioux was obviously a big part of that as well. They hosted several weddings on the front lawn of their beautiful home. There were multiple Christmas parties, gatherings, you name it. It was incredibly special how Eddie brought us all together and had our families essentially grow up together.”

Stillson concurred and recalled how Sinnott was there for him during the most difficult time in his life.

“When my first wife passed away, I can’t even begin to describe how much Eddie was there for me,” said Stillson. “That goes for Sioux and Steve as well. They’re not the kind of people to disappear when things get tough, and I’ll never be able to repay them for the compassion and kindness they showed me during that time.”

Stillson continued, “I remarried a few years later and Eddie and Sioux opened their home to us. We had our reception in the backyard, and trust me when I tell you they pulled out all the stops. They went so far above and beyond, and that’s what they did with everything. My wife and I miss Eddie dearly. Just a great coach and all-around great person.”

No one more deserving
About a month before Sinnott passed away, while his health was declining, he continued to be the positive and goal-oriented person he’d been his entire life.

“We had a goal meeting shortly before he died,” said Sioux. “His number one goal, of course, was to beat cancer, but going into the Hall of Fame was right at the top of the list. In a perfect world, he would’ve loved to go into the Hall with Jim and Steve. But he would’ve been so honored going into this spectacular class of 2024 that’s filled with so much talent and love for SMU.”

Collins and Stillson believe his Hall of Fame induction is only fitting for a man who gave so much of his heart and time to SMU and the swimming program.

“No one cared about SMU as much as Eddie,” Collins said. “He was also a real historian of the program. He always made time to meet with any alum that would come by and was so appreciative of their contributions to the program, so to have his own day of recognition is the way it should be. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”

“This is the crowning achievement of his career,” Stillson added. “No one becomes a Hall of Famer overnight. Eddie put decades upon decades into this sport, and he cared for the average swimmer just as much as he cared for the Olympians. No matter what level they were at, he just wanted to build their confidence and see them succeed. That’s one of the many reasons why he’s going into the Hall of Fame.”

A true Mustang
It’s no secret that a central theme in Sinnott’s life was togetherness. As great of a coach as he was, it was a team effort to elevate the program to new heights, which is something Sioux is the most proud of as she looks back on her husband’s Hall of Fame career.

“Between Eddie, Jim, and Steve, I know every single athlete they coached appreciated the resiliency of those three men,” said Sioux. “I remember back in 2004, we were on pins and needles waiting for the budget to decide which program was going to be cut. We figured it was either going to be Eddie’s or Dave’s [Wollman].”

Sioux continued, “Dave’s men’s track and field program was the one that ended up getting cut, which was so difficult because all of these coaches were such a tight-knit group, but there was no guarantee Eddie’s program would survive forever, either. After the death penalty, these were challenging times at SMU, but Eddie, Jim, and Steve didn’t run from adversity; they grew stronger from it. They showed tenacity and strength, and that tells you what kind of coaches and men of character they all are.”

By leading their respective SMU teams to an astonishing 100 combined seasons, Sinnott, Stillson, and Collins have left a tremendous legacy on SMU’s swimming and diving programs, which will continue to benefit from their dedication and passion for years to come.

As for Sinnott, although his team’s performances and records will long be remembered, his true legacy lies in how he treated people and impacted their lives.

“If his athletes failed or didn’t have their best day in the pool, he was always encouraging them to try again because he wanted so badly to see his swimmers and divers succeed,” said Collins. “That’s one of the reasons why he had such a great impact on so many people. Eddie was the guy to have in your corner because he was your number one fan.”

While Sinnott won’t be able to accept the greatest honor of his professional career, being inducted into the SMU Hall of Fame, his legacy lives on with the program he built, the lives he impacted, and a university he loved more than anything.

Sinnott set the standard on what it means to be an SMU Mustang.

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Former SMU swimmer Rory Callaghan:

“Deciding to attend and swim at SMU was a life altering experience. Having Eddie at the helm and at your side was an incredible coach/athlete relationship, which also meant you were a friend and part of the family. I had the opportunity to experience this relationship both in the pool and across the open water. Although Eddie may not like canoes, he was always close by traversing all the elements. Eddie brought out the best in each of us which is why we are such a tight team today.”

Former SMU swimmer Ryan Berube:

“Like so many great coaches, Eddie Sinnott was very much like a second father to me. He brought an endless supply of dry humor, wit, and guidance for either overly confident young men or those in search of the confidence required to succeed.
Among many, many things Eddie taught me was to stick to the well-thought-out plan, even if there were a few hiccups along the way. He always knew what to do and how say the right thing to get the most out of his athletes.”

The inductees will be recognized at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Friday, September 20 in Armstrong Fieldhouse on the SMU Campus.

[Water Pony]

Although I graduated from SMU before Eddie enrolled and swam for the school and during my return visits as a swimming alumnus, Eddie, Steve, and Jim always welcomed me and other former teammates.

Eddie took pride in our team's long and highly successful history that preceded him, when he built on the legacy of SMU Swimming & Diving teams under Coaches Barr and Mac.

From ambitious and unfulfilled plans for a new Aquatic Center on the site of the Perkins Natatorium to alumni meets to his persistent optimism, Eddie maintained the love and reputation of our historic program.

Congratulations to his family on being named to SMU's Hall of Fame. So deserving.