Mal Cofield

Kokomo High School Coach, 1959 – 81

Mal Cofield arrived at Kokomo in 1951 to run the YMCA swimming program. When Cofield came to the City of Firsts in 1951 there was only one indoor pool, at the YMCA. For his Kokomo High School students to take swim classes, they had to carry their own gear to the Y, and then during the winter, brave frigid temperatures to get back to school. He remained there through 1959, when he was hired by the school corporation to begin the first varsity swimming program.  Cofield coached his high school team in this 20-yard pool at the YMCA.  He coached the Wildkats for 10 years, culminating in a state championship in 1969 and finished runner-up in 1965 and 1968. That same season, Cofield coached both Kokomo and the newly opened Haworth squads, and then went on to lead the Haworth Huskies through 12 more seasons.  At Haworth, Cofield helped another five swimmers win four more titles. The Huskies were state runner-up in 1981, his last season before he retired. In 22 years at the two schools, Cofield’s teams captured 15 state sectional championships.  Mal passed away in July of 2006, leaving behind a wife Kathryn and three children.