Induction Video
(Written: July 2018)
Lynn “Red” Blair served as UW-Stevens Point’s swimming & diving coach from 1965-97 when he coached 477 first team and honorable mention All-Americans. He was selected the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1990 and NCAA Division III Coach of the Year in 1997. Blair was chosen the conference Coach of the Year three times.
He led the men’s team to 14 top-10 national finishes and the women’s team to three top-10 finishes. Blair coached 13 individual national champions and was the recipient of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Master Coach Award and Distinguished Coach Award. He was president of the NAIA Coaches Association from 1981-82.
From 1973-76, Blair was a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee for women’s swimming representing the NAIA. In 1975, he traveled to Mexico to put on a swimming clinic on behalf of the U.S. Collegiate Sports Counsel. In 1979, Blair served as an assistant swimming coach for the World University Student Games.
He was inducted into both the NAIA Hall of Fame and NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame in 1985, and UW-Stevens Point Hall of Fame in 2000. His 1989-90 men’s squad that finished as the NAIA national runner-up was inducted into the UW-Stevens Point Hall of Fame in 1996.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from MacMurray College (Ill.) and master’s degree in physical education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Blair resides in Waupaca, Wis.