By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam
Don Lemieux, who coached the Gardner High School girls team to 15 straight Massachusetts Division I State Championships (1994-2008), has died. He was 65 years old.
Lemieux also was the head coach for Greenwood Swimming out of Worcester, MA. The team’s website says that he eventually became the owner of the club.
He coached 16 Olympic Trials qualifiers including 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Samantha Arsenault. Arsenault led off the 4×200 relay for the US at the 2000 Olympics, splitting a 1:59.38. Arsenault’s collegiate career began at Michigan before she transferred to Georgia.
He also coached Erica Meissner who was a 2004 Olympic Trials finalist and 2005 USA Junior National team member. Meissner was a captain for Gardner High School in 2006. She went on to swim for Auburn.
The 15 straight high school titles were from 1994-2008. Lemieux also led the girl’s team to a 16th title in 2010. They finished as runners-up in 2009. The team also won 134 consecutive dual meets. Lemieux was inducted into the Gardner High School Hall of Fame in 2014.
Lemieux entered the swimming environment in 1980 as superintendent of the Greenwood Pool. Prior to this, he had coached multiple other sports including basketball and football. He quickly made his way to success. He also was a member of the ISCA executive board.
Lisa Arsenault, not related to Samantha although they were teammates in high school, now coaches Gardner High School. She began there in 2019.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Don Lemieux, 16 Time Massachusetts High School Championship Coach, Dies at 65
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