Carmel High School Coach, 1979 – 94
Ray Lawrence amassed 11 IHSAA State Championship titles over the course of his coaching career. His coaching resume consists of Westwood Country Club (1972-74), the Indianapolis Swim Club (1974-79), Carmel Swim Club (1979-90), Carmel High School boy’s program (1979-94), and the Carmel High School girl’s program (1980-90). Ray won his first girl’s state title at Carmel in 1981-82 and followed it up with five additional titles for a total of six. Carmel’s boy’s state title run began in 1990 and continued for five straight years (1990-94). His high school teams finished in the top ten of the mythical national high school championships 12 times, and his teams were national power point champions twice. Ray coached three swimmers to national high school records, Heidi Hafner in the 100-yard backstroke, Jason Lancaster in the 200-yard individual medley, and the 1988 girls 200-yard medley relay, and 9 national high school champions. His teams produced 44 state high school individual and relay champions, and over 70 high school All-Americans. Ray has worked with nine Olympic Trial qualifiers and one Olympian, Stephanie Elkins in 1980. Ray was named National Men’s High School Coach of the Year in 1995. He was awarded seven Indiana State High School Coach of the Year honors, and three Jim Clark Memorial Awards as Indiana USS Coach of the Year. Ray was the first coach to reach level 5 in 3 categories (age group, high school and senior) in the ASCA certification program. Ray is retired as principal at Speedway High School in July 2007. Ray’s greatest supporters are his wife, Nancy and his two sons, Eric (with his wife Angie) and Andy.