Neil Matzen, the founder of Richardson's competitive swimming team, died on Saturday, December 12, 2009.

On Saturday he lost his fight with Glioblastoma, an aggresive brain tumor at his home with his family.

Matzen founded the Richardson program, known now as COR, in 1961. He was also its first coach. According to our information, he graduated from Richardson High School in 1964. His tenure with the COR Team lasted 21 years. After it's founding, the City of Richardson Team has gone on to offer a year round competition and has become a recognized team in the region.

He graduated from Rice and then earned a Master's degree from SMU. In 1970, he began teaching at Richardson High school. There he started their Computer Math program and he began coaching their swim team.

Under his leadership, Cottonwood Pool was winterized for year round swimming. He was also an advocate and leader that helped create natatoriums at Pearce and Berkner High Schools.

In 1978, his girls team placed first and his boys team second in the State Championships. He was voted Texas High School Girls Coach of the Year that year.

He met his future wife Linda at Highland Park Methodist Church an they were married in 1984.

In 1998, he took early retirement from the RISD and went to work for Episcopal School of Dallas. He taught 7th grade math, honors math, and coached a championship math team. For that he received the Edyth May Sliffe Award, a national award for excellence in teaching.

He was devoted to his sons Nelson and Grant including participating in their sports activities.

A visitation will be held at at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 8011 Frankford Rd just east of Coit Rd on Friday, December 18, 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Richardson on Saturday, December 19 at 2:00 PM.

If you have any memories or any interesting biographical information on Coach Matzen that you would like to share, then please leave a comment or send us e-mail on our contact page.

Note: We are grateful to the Matzen family for giving us this information on his accomplishments in order to help celebrate his life. Almost all of this comes directly from information they provided. Thank you again.

Photo credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln