Frank Carroll has died

[overedge]

What a sad loss. In addition to his work with elite skaters, he coached a lot of non-elite skaters, including adults. He said that it helped him be a better coach to work with all kinds of skaters. That was a really generous attitude, and you certainly wouldn't find that with all high level coaches.

He was also not afraid to work with other coaches and choreographers, and to take a chance with them if it would help his own skaters improve and grow. Lori Nichol was not that well known as a choreographer, but Frank knew her from the John Curry company IIRC and thought she and Kwan would work well together. And look what happened from that.

Michelle's words are beautiful. He will truly be missed.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Wow - he passed along and helped create so much skating legacy. RIP.

 

[bardtoob]

An honest coach, Frank trained good skaters and let the skating speak for itself. He was a credit to MVO's name. He was a true talent and I am a fan.

 

[DORISPULASKI]

He will be missed by the whole skating community. A great coach and a good man.

Condolences to his friends.

 

[Prancer]

RIP to a legend.

 

[attyfan]

Rest in peace, Frank.

 

[BittyBug]

I am deeply saddened by this news. Frank Carroll was an absolute gentleman who was a giant in our sport. He leaves an enormous legacy, but also a huge void.

 

[Daisy18]

Rest in peace to a legend. He will be missed.

 

[peibeck]

And "Lyra Angelica" was heard throughout the heavens this day. Farewell, Frank, be at peace and know your influence is deeply felt and remembered.

 

[Buzz]

So terrible! LOVED him! R.I.P.

 

[rfisher]

Frank had his share of talented skaters and of those who were talented but a real challenge to handle and he managed to do so with dignity even when he didn't always understand the skater. I think of Christopher Bowman on one extreme and Evan Lysacek and MK on the other. He had a full life and I wish those he leaves behind peace with his passing.

 

[Yuri]

While I traveled in his circles when my skating sibling was competing at US Nationals, unfortunately I never had the pleasure of meeting Frank. I always admired him, and his death is an enormous loss to the skating community. RIP!

 

[YukiNieve]

You will be missed, Mr. Caroll. RIP.

 

[LilJen]

LEGENDARY. Such an immense positive influence on US skating.

 

[kwanfan1818]

My condolences to his family and friends.

 

[chantilly]

I’m feeling both saddened and inspired by this man and his legacy!

 

[briancoogaert]

He gave so much to the sport. A great coach. RIP

 

[Ananas Astra]

RIP legend!

 

[MINAM]

RIP.

 

[escaflowne9282]

May he Rest in Peace.

 

[Private Citizen]

Frank was one of those ageless figures I thought would live forever, kind of like Queen Elizabeth. 85 is a good life, yet it still feels strange that he’s gone. RIP

 

[paskatefan]

RIP, Frank. Thank you for your dedication to the sport.

 

[Sylvia]

Carroll was diagnosed with colon cancer last year - his message to the figure skating community was posted on FSU on February 11, 2023:

Ann Jensen posted this for Frank Carroll on Facebook:

Frank Carroll has asked me to share this with you all.

My Dear Friends -

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the recent Nationals and would have loved to have been there in San Jose with you all. It is also wonderful to see Oksana at the 4 Continents competition, she certainly is keeping figure skating alive in Kazakhstan, what a great tribute to Denis.

I was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. Since then, I have received tremendous care and my prognosis is good, but I do have a lot less energy than I need to keep up with all my correspondence. Please know that I thank God for friends who never forget me and seem to never give up on me. I do cherish them even if I am neglectful in my response to their reaching out.

I am recovering at home and I am thankful to my puppies and my friends who have taken great care of me.

While this means I will be away from the rink for a little while, I am staying positive and looking forward to seeing you all soon.

With Gratitude,
Frank

Christine Brennan's article, updated today (June 10):

Figure skating coach Frank Carroll, who coached Michelle Kwan and other Olympians, dies at age 85

Frank Carroll, who coached Michelle Kwan, Evan Lysacek and Timothy Goebel, among other Olympic, world and national champions, died Sunday.

www.usatoday.com

Excerpt from the end:

For much of the time Kwan worked with Carroll, her choreographer was Lori Nichol, Carroll’s collaborative partner.
"Frank was a rare and glorious combination of high intelligence, discipline, courage and kindness,” Nichol texted. “A gentleman, simultaneously hilarious and refined, whose voice I hear in my head every day both on and off the ice.”

ISU's obituary today: https://www.isu.org/isu-news/news/145-news/15018-obituary-frank-carroll-usa?templateParam=15

 

[Jarrett]

Carroll was diagnosed with colon cancer last year - his message to the figure skating community was posted on FSU on February 11, 2023:

Christine Brennan's article, updated today (June 10):

Figure skating coach Frank Carroll, who coached Michelle Kwan and other Olympians, dies at age 85

Frank Carroll, who coached Michelle Kwan, Evan Lysacek and Timothy Goebel, among other Olympic, world and national champions, died Sunday.

www.usatoday.com

Excerpt from the end:


ISU's obituary today: https://www.isu.org/isu-news/news/145-news/15018-obituary-frank-carroll-usa?templateParam=15

I wonder if there was ever any book in the works by Frank. I think it would have been wonderful read.

 

[Sylvia]

I wonder if there was ever any book in the works by Frank. I think it would have been wonderful read.

Hopefully Carroll's planned book is still in the works - he mentioned it in Polina Edmunds' podcast interview 2 years ago:

ICYMI, Polina Edmunds interviewed Frank Carroll, now 83(?), on her podcast:

The Iron Butterfly: Raw Skating (ft. Frank Carroll)

I sit down with world famous coach Frank Carroll, who has coached many famous figure skating champions in his career. We chat about his start in skating, what he looks for in recognizing talent, parents’ role in the coaching processes, training athletes with different personalities, consultant...

bleav.com

April 12, 2022
I sit down with world famous coach Frank Carroll, who has coached many famous figure skating champions in his career. We chat about his start in skating, what he looks for in recognizing talent, parents' role in the coaching processes, training athletes with different personalities, consultant coaching, politics in skating, his thoughts on the Olympic doping scandal and the handling of it all, his thoughts on current women's skating and what needs to change in the judging system, and his favorite moment in his coaching career.

He says the 3 people he thought could be World champions the first time he saw them skate were Linda Fratianne, Christopher Bowman, and Michelle Kwan.

Around the 24 min. mark Carroll says the title of his upcoming book(!) is his favorite expression - "You and Me Against the World."

Not surprisingly, Carroll doesn't mince words about PCS scoring (starting after 48 mins.).

 

[Sylvia]

@manleywoman's podcast conversation with Frank Carroll 16 years ago (includes a transcript of interview highlights):

Episode #14: Frank Carroll - figure skating interviews : The Manleywoman SkateCast

An interview with Frank Carroll, world class coach of many fantastic skaters, including Michelle Kwan, Linda Fratianne, Evan Lysacek and Chris Bowman.

manleywoman.com

 

[Yuri]

Frank was one of those ageless figures I thought would live forever, kind of like Queen Elizabeth. 85 is a good life, yet it still feels strange that he’s gone. RIP

Just over four years ago we lost Ron Ludington, the great Olympics pairs and ice dancing coach, and I met John Nicks (now 95) at his pandemic-delayed Celebration of Life two years ago in Wilmington DE. One of my favorite memories while volunteering at 1989 US Nationals in Baltimore was driving the legendary Carlo Fassi from the practice rink downtown to the main arena. Alas, Mr. Nicks may be the last survivor of that 1980s-90s era of all-time greats. I suppose Soviets/Russians Tatiana Tarasova, Tamara Moskvina and Alexei Mishin fit into that category, too, but other famous European coaches like Jutta Muller (Katarina Witt) have passed recently. Frank absolutely was skating royalty.

I wonder if Frank's 1960s-era beach party movie roles will ever be known. I believe he always kept his acting name secret.

 

[bardtoob]

I wonder if Frank's 1960s-era beach party movie roles will ever be known. I believe he always kept his acting name secret.

After a tasteful amount of time has passed, I would like to make an off-season game called "Yes, I found Frank in a movie!"

 

[overedge]

After a tasteful amount of time has passed, I would like to make an off-season game called "Yes, I found Frank in a movie!"

I hope he told someone his stage name, or the names of the films he was in, with instructions not to reveal that until he was gone.

 

[bardtoob]

I can't help but believe that Frank prepared Linda from the very beginning for this moment.

Sergei Shakhrai Skating ⛸ on Instagram: "#100centenary #icegala #queenelizabeth #figureskating #exhibition #skatingassociation #lindafratianne @n.v.linichuk #linichuk #sergeishakhrai #marinacherkasova #сергейшахрай #наталиялиничук #мариначеркасова #а

63 likes, 6 comments - sergei_shakhrai_coach on April 14, 2021: "#100centenary #icegala #queenelizabeth #figureskating #exhibition #skatingassociation #lindafratianne @n.v.linichuk #linichuk...".

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