Swimming Coach Selected

A special committee has selected a swimming coach to replace retiring Bill Brooks, but the new man has not yet been contacted, and the official announcement will not come until sometime next week.

The committee reached its decision at a six-hour meeting Thursday night at the Faculty Club. Director of Athletics Robert Watson has the power to overrule the committee's decision, but is reportedly planning to approve the choice. Watson is in New Hampshire for the weekend and could not be reached.

The new coach will be one of four men-Alan Switzer, Benn Merritt. Charlie Hickcox, or Don Gambril Though 30 persons applied, only these four were interviewed. One committee member said that he is confident the new man will accept the job.

Merritt appears to be the most likely choice, though his chances were estimated at only 40 per cent earlier this week by a committee member. He has been an assistant to Brooks since 1959 and has headed Harvard's swimming program recently as Brooks has handed over increasing responsibility.

Switzer has been the head coach at Hill School in Pottsdam, Penna, for ten years. He was graduated from Harvard in 1952 and six years later earned a EdM here.

Gambril has also been coaching for a number of years, but has been involved in higher-level competition as the coach at Long Beach State in California. He is apparently dissatisfied with his swimmers' tendency to transfer as soon as their grades are high enough.

Hickcox's background is in big-time swimming, too, but his youth (23-years-old) distinguishes him from the other candidates. Hickcox, who is now an assistant at the University of Arizona, was an All-American in backstroke and the individual medley at powerful Indiana.

Before the new man is notified early next week. Watson must okay the decision with Dean Dunlop and the Faculty Committee on Athletics. It will not be official until approved by the Corporation.