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Collins honored for 50 years as swim coach

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It all started as a lifeguard teaching little kids how to swim in a New York City pool.

On Sunday, Ed Collins was honored for his 50 years as a swim coach, half of which here in Southwest Florida, with the biggest honor having the pool at Cape Coral High School named in his honor.

Many family and friends came to Palmetto Pine Country Club for a surprise celebration of his career. Meanwhile, at the pool a sign was being installed in his honor, one that he would see for the first time on Monday when he arrived at the school.

Collins, who said he’s never been a party person, said he thought it was just a Christmas party, but knew something was up when his sister arrived from New Jersey. He was equally stunned to learn about the pool being named after him.

“When I learned they wanted to name the facility after me, I was humbled. I don’t think I really deserve that recognition,” Collins said.

Collins started as a lifeguard in 1965 after graduating from high school, and was assigned to give swimming lessons in the morning.

“By the end of the summer some of the kids wanted to swim in the New York City Parks Department meet in Manhattan, so in a way I was coaching,” Collins said.

The following spring, Collins was asked to form the girls team at the Immaculate Conception Parish Elementary School in Manhattan, leading them to a championship. He formed the boys team the following year and they started winning as well.

Collins also helped coach his cousin’s team, the prestigious Badger Swim Club, in Larchmont, N.Y., which has produced Olympic champions such as Rick Carey and Cody Miller.

At the same time, Collins worked as an undercover New York City police officer, which he did from 1968 until he retired and moved to Florida in 1992.

Collins said he never anticipated getting that involved in it, but soon found himself at Swim Florida, which has 10 pools throughout Southwest Florida, as an assistant coach.

“I wanted to keep my hand in coaching. I was working with the beginners, teaching them the strokes, and worked my way through with my kids,” Collins said. “When the head coach left, I took over.”

He also got involved in the high school teams, mostly as an interim until they found someone more permanent, which he did at Bishop Verot, Mariner and Cape Coral. A few years ago, he started the swim program at Oasis and has been there since.

“They didn’t have any sports at Oasis and they felt they were losing students because of it. I was more into USA Swimming, but I started the program and have enjoyed it,” Collins said.

Collins said he didn’t get into the business for accolades, but rather to teach kids something, which he has always considered himself more of, and because of the impact you have on them.

“I didn’t have a lot of dreams or expectations. I followed coaches in magazines and had a dream of being successful once I started,” Collins said. “I got caught up in teaching something they didn’t know how to do and become good at it.”

Swim Florida coach Ed Collins with his commemorative plaque.

Chuck Ballaro