Lee Lawrence, who was a member of the men’s swimming coaching staff for 36 years and also served as an instructor in the Naval Academy physical education department, died Oct. 9 in Jacksonville, Florida, because of a stroke. He was 82.
Born in Pennsylvania, Lawrence enrolled in Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1960 and served three years of active duty. He arrived in Annapolis and began his coaching career at Navy in 1967 as an assistant to John Higgins. He was elevated to head coach in 1973, and Navy compiled winning records in 25 of his 30 seasons at the helm.