Charles E. Silvia

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Charles "Red" Silvia, an inductee Honor Coach of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2007
Coach Charles "Red" Silvia giving a speech in 1967 at the Springfield College pool opening ceremonies
Charles Silva presenting at ISHOF in 1973
Charles Silva presenting at ISHOF in 1973
Charles Silva (middle), Coach

Charles E. Silvia or Charles "Red" Silva or Charles E. Silva (1911 - died on 16 June 1998 at 87 years), nicknamed Red, was an American swimming coach and well-published author and authority on swimming and lifesaving. He is a graduate of Springfield College in the Class of 1934. Dual inductee Honor Coach of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2007 and International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Coaching Career

  • He served as the swimming coach for 41 years from 1937-1977. His teams won 214 meets and 10 New England championships.
  • He was an All American swimmer with 12 New England Team titles who coached Olympic gold medalist in the 200m butterfly Bill Yorzky (Springfield College Class of 1954).
  • Red coached more than 200 All-American swimmers and an Olympic gold medalist during his 41 years at Springfield College.
  • He coached and taught life saving at Springfield College from 1937 until his retirement in 1978.
  • He trained several New England-based marathon swimmers for English Channel attempts and was instrumental in organizing man local marathon swims.
  • He served as the chairman of its board of directors of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
  • Silva won a New England championship and set several college records as an athlete.

Coach Charles 'Red' Silvia Career

  • USA National Collegiate record holder in the 300 yard individual medley
  • College All-American swimmer
  • Captain of the Springfield College Swim Team
  • He coached multiple sports at New Hampton School, Wibraham Academy, New Haven YMCA, Springfield College (from 1937)
  • Assistant Coach of the 1956 USA Olympic Swim Team
  • Mentored and developed 50 college swim coaches
  • His swimmers set 14 world swimming records
  • He served as President of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America
  • He served as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
  • He was recipient of Collegiate & Scholastic Swimming Trophy
  • He is an Honoree in the Helms (Citizens Savings) Hall of Fame
  • His college teams won 214 meets and 10 New England championships.

Honors

International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction in 1976

Charles 'Red' Silvia was an American swimming coach who trained New England-based marathon swimmers for English Channel attempts and was instrumental in organizing many local marathon swims. In 1973, Davis Hart, one of Silva's swimmers, set the record for the English Channel.

Silva won a New England Championship and set several college records as an athlete. He coached and taught life-saving procedures at Springfield College, Massachusetts during a 41 year career. His teams won 214 meets and ten New England Championships.

In 1970 there were some 700 college coaches in the United States and more than half of them were Silva’s swimmers.

He was inducted in 1976 into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Contributor for having coached more than 200 All-American swimmers, including Olympic gold medalist Bill Yorzyk. He served as its fourth president and later as the Chairman of the ISHOF.

He was Inducted as an Honor Coach of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2007.

He received The Irving Davids / Captain Roger W. Wheeler Memorial Award in 1978 for his contributions to the administration of open water swimming.

Publications

Silvia wrote many books including:

  • Manual of Lifesaving And Water Safety Instruction published in 1954
  • Lifesaving and Water Safety Instruction published in 1958
  • LIFESAVING AND WATER SAFETY TODAY For Students and Instructors published in 1966
  • Lifesaving and Water Safety Today published in 1968
  • Manual and Lesson Plans for Basic Swimming, Water Stunts,, Life Saving, Springboard Diving, Skin & Scuba Diving published in 1970
  • Life Saving, Springboard Diving, Skin & Scuba Diving, published in 1970
  • Lifesaving and Water Safety Today For Students and Instructors published in 1971

External links

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