Francis M. “Frank” Carroll, a U.S. figure skating coach and former competitive skater, has died. Frank was instrumental in the careers of numerous Olympic and World champions and many future Hall of Famers. He had coached Linda Fratianne, Michelle Kwan, and Evan Lysacek to the World Championships and Lysacek to Olympic gold in 2010.
Who was Frank Carroll?
Frank was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. When he was in his early teenage years, a skating rink opened in his neighborhood, and he began skating, interested in the combination of artistry and athleticism. After graduating from the College of the Holy Cross in 1960 with a B.S. in sociology, Frank moved to Winchester, Massachusetts, and lived with his coach, Maribel Vinson Owen, and her daughters on weekends.
He won the bronze medal on the junior level at the 1959 U.S. Championships and at the junior level at the 1960 U.S. Championships, behind Douglas Ramsay. He skated with the Ice Follies until 1964 and appeared in the background of several beach films, including The Loved One. He began coaching part-time and eventually coached full-time. His notable students include Linda Fratianne, Christopher Bowman, Michelle Kwan, Timothy Goebel, Gracie Gold, Denis Ten, and Evan Lysacek.
Career as a figure skater and coach
Frank Carroll started skating when a skating rink opened in his neighborhood. Frank turned professional and was skating with the Ice Follies at the time of the Sabena Flight 548 crash that killed the entire U.S. team. Frank skated with the Ice Follies until 1964. He was accepted to law school at the University of San Francisco but chose to pursue acting. He appeared in the background of several beach films, including The Loved One.
He was the head coach for the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California. In 2011, he began coaching at a newly built rink in Cathedral City, California, in order to be closer to his home in Palm Springs, California, one of his homes since the 1980s.
Memorial Fund By The U.S. Figure Skating
The Memorial Fund was created out of the tragic plane crash of the U.S. Figure Skating World Team in 1961. From this loss arose the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund, with a mission to provide qualified U.S. Figure Skating members with monetary assistance in pursuing goals both on and off the ice. The fund awards skating and academic scholarships to those athletes who demonstrate excellent competitive results, academic achievements, and show potential in national and international competitions. 100% of your donation goes towards qualified skaters!
