One afternoon in 1918, Yale's swimming coach fell suddenly ill and someone yelled at Bob Kiphuth, a young physical education instructor: "Get up there in a hurry and direct the swimming squad." Robert John Herman Kiphuth, 27, had never coached swimming before, but he got up there and started directing. He has been doing it ever since. In 41 years as coach of the Yale team. Kiphuth has amassed an unparalleled record in sport: 522 victories in dual swimming meets, only twelve defeats.
In his long term at New Haven. Kiphuth produced dozens of topflight swimmers, and many were record breakers. Among...