Frank Carroll has officially retired.

[aftershocks]

Bebe Liang posted yesterday on her Instagram a lovely photo with Frank Carroll, students and other coaches (including Linda Fratianne and Christa Fassi). The caption states that Frank's retirement was celebrated this week:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Blvw5Idl1F8/?hl=en&taken-by=bebe_liang

I thought Frank has been apparently semi-retired for awhile. But I guess he's made it official now. For a coach who has meant so much to the sport and who has seen so much, there should be more tributes and fanfare. I guess if IceNetwork was still up, there would be an article. I think this goes to show that in-depth figure skating coverage is going to be woefully lacking going forward, and that's a crying shame.

Good luck to Frank Carroll! I hope he finds the time to write his memoirs. In honor of Frank, I'm going to rewatch his famous interview with TSL, when Jenny Kirk was still on board.

 

[aftershocks]

I learned this news thanks to a post in the Denis Ten thread by @livetoskate.

 

[livetoskate]

I'm hoping Phil Hersch will write something about his retirement, since Hersch recently talked to him about Denis Ten. Over 20 years ago, I took a group spin class during a summer camp program with Frank Carroll (seems like everyone calls him Frank, even his much younger students). He had us go out in front of the class in groups of 2 to do spins. I was in awe of being in Frank's presence because he was already famous in my eyes being Michelle Kwan's coach. So my roommate and I got out there at the Blue Jay rink and did our lackluster layback spins, and Frank was so nice and tactful. He said something like, "Now, do you all think the free leg position could be a little improved?" He was always talking in a calm, kindly way while I was there. What a legend in this sport. I hope he's dealing with Denis' death ok and that his former students keep him company in his retirement years.

 

[livetoskate]

one more thing, Frank Carroll should write an autobiography! I'd love to hear his stories!

 

[aftershocks]

^^ Yes, I agree. An autobiography or a memoir. I hope so.

And thanks for linking in the D10 thread the EuropeOnIce.com article about Denis Ten's training for Pyeongchang and his thoughts on Frank Carroll. https://europeonice.com/2018/02/04/denis-ten-korea-is-not-a-foreign-place-for-me/

These words by Denis about Frank are so poignant and timely:

"Frank is one of the people that I know that most of his students they keep connected with him despite all the challenges and all the changes in their lives. I think that describes him as a person. He’s a man that is my coach. He’s my mentor and just a human being that is very close to my heart and a person I dearly love.”

Gosh, Denis! The loss of this young man is so heartbreaking.
I just broke down crying seeing that sweet close-up picture of Denis smiling into the camera just below this quote!

 

[bardtoob]

Bebe Liang posted yesterday on her Instagram a lovely photo with Frank Carroll, students and other coaches (including Linda Fratianne and Christa Fassi).

I believe Tiffany Chin, who also coaches at the Toyota Center, is in the picture.

I hope Frank happiness in retirement

 

[coppertop1]

He's certainly earned his retirement. He's coached so many great skaters and has had lot of success. That's such a sweet quote from Denis about Frank, it's so tragic that D10 is no longer with us. Frank must have been heartbroken when he heard the news. I think he was the type of coach who was tough become he cared. Enjoy your day retirement, Frank.

 

[russell30]

Frank an icon in our sport, great to see so many skating coaches and skaters there, shame Michelle or Evan wasn't in the picture - for a minute I thought Lu Chen was at the back? (but mistaken).

I wish Frank all the best in his retirement - he is going to be missed and yes lovely words from D10 oh boy what a whirlwind off season this has been guys!!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

How great to see BeBe!!!

End of a longgggg era! He will be missed! I still remember seeing him at SkAm 04.

https://www.ifsmagazine.com/frank-carroll-retires/ <<<---- Great article.

 

[kittyjake5]

He has been a wonderful coach throughout the years to many, many skaters. It won't seem the same without him but
it is time for him to rest and enjoy himself.

Best of Luck to Frank and thank you for your love and dedication to
your students, colleagues and of course to the sport of figure skating. You will be missed.

 

[shah]

Not so unexpected news, but it's going to be so strange not to see him in the k'n'c again . The off-season so far has been incredibly depressing .

 

[Carolla5501]

I honestly wish he had stepped aside a few years ago. I always had admired him as such a class act. And then.... sigh


I’m not sure I want a “tell all” from him now.

 

[savchenkoboss]

I am glad he got his Olympic Gold medal finally in 2010 before going out!

 

[bardtoob]

I honestly wish he had stepped aside a few years ago. I always had admired him as such a class act. And then.... sigh


I’m not sure I want a “tell all” from him now.

He has always been a character with a sharp tongue. Sometimes the media is far more public about it than other times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vg6Ejha7rY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q3LST_EkA0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL9Jzle8P-k&feature=youtu.be&t=165

Evan, Gracie, Mirai, and a few others really go a piece of his mind. It reminded me of a prestigious visiting swim coach that I had literally no relationship with that said to me, "What the hell is wrong with your flip turn! Your ass almost hits the wall every time you cross the pool!" ... He told my regular coach I was, in general, under-performing in comparison to my potential. I was about 15 years old.

 

[Carolla5501]

He has always been a character with a sharp tongue. Sometimes the media is far more public about it than other times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vg6Ejha7rY

Evan, Gracie, Mirai, and a few others really go a piece of his mind. It reminded me of a prestigious visiting swim coach that I had literally no relationship with that said to me, "What the hell is wrong with your flip turn! Your ass almost hits the wall every time you cross the pool!" ... He told my regular coach I was, in general, under-performing in comparison to my potential. I was about 15 years old.

There’s still a big jump to throwing your skaters under the bus in public. Sadly I don’t think I can forget his final appearance as Gracie Gold’s coach. I wish I could but my image of him went way downhill. I know others will feel differently and that’s fine

 

[bardtoob]

There’s still a big jump to throwing your skaters under the bus in public. Sadly I don’t think I can forget his final appearance as Gracie Gold’s coach

Fair enough. I am glad we now know exactly what you mean.

 

[bardtoob]

Lee Carroll , Frank Carroll, & Bill Thomas - Ice Follies of 1963
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9apvE11PjC0

How have I never seen this before! There are only 536 view!

 

[skatesindreams]

I found; and posted that long ago, in one of the "Before they were famous"/Golden Oldie threads, here..

Frank's contribution to/influence upon/knowledge about skating is incalculable.
He has been a conduit for the teaching and legacies of many people who are no longer with us.

I wonder how Michelle feels, today.
They have remained very close.

 

[peibeck]

There’s still a big jump to throwing your skaters under the bus in public. Sadly I don’t think I can forget his final appearance as Gracie Gold’s coach. I wish I could but my image of him went way downhill. I know others will feel differently and that’s fine

You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't think one memory should completely overshadow someone who devoted more than 50 years of teaching to the sport. He's 80 (or about to be), and deserves to enjoy his retirement (at last). We've all not been at our best at some times in our lives. I hope one lesser moment is not how we are regarded overall.

 

[skatesindreams]

I don’t think I can forget his final appearance as Gracie Gold’s coach. I wish I could but my image of him went way downhill.

Regrettable as it likely was; that incident may have helped Gracie find the assistance she needed.

 

[Inessence]

Regrettable as it likely was; that incident may have helped Gracie find the assistance she needed.

True. Frank isn’t a psychologist and likely didn’t know how to respond to her. It’s sad to me that his final years as a coach have seen such turmoil. I hope retirement treats him much better.

 

[happycamper2554]

Regrettable as it likely was; that incident may have helped Gracie find the assistance she needed.

I think Gracie liking posts about him and posting a picture of them together means that she realizes that part of it was her issue. (not excusing his behavior, but they were both part of the problem)

 

[bardtoob]

It would not surprise me if Frank and Gracie reconnected because of their common connection with Denis. I think Frank and Gracie's problems may seem rather small when considering the loss of Denis.

 

[bardtoob]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlbaiAIHdmR/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=mb0moxe9ps0g

 

[skatesindreams]

His future plans sound wonderful:
https://www.ifsmagazine.com/frank-carroll-retires/

 

[VGThuy]

Has anybody ever figured out which beach movie he did back when he was trying to make it in Hollywood. It always entertained me that when asked, he'd talk about it but would never reveal the title(s) of the movies he was in. Just called it beach blanket bingo knock-offs or something like that.

 

[kwanatic]

Frank is a legend in the world of figure skating and especially in US figure skating. He's given us some amazing skaters and champions over the years and for that the sport should be eternally grateful. No, he was not the magic pill for all skaters but you can't deny that those who trained under improved leaps and bounds especially when it came to presentation and presence.

I'll miss seeing his fedoras in the K&C but I wish him the best in his retirement. I too would love to read his memoirs. He's worked with so many amazing skaters over the years...I'm sure he has awesome stories to share!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

It may have been a prelude to Carrol's most bittersweet moment as a coach, but I loved his unbridled enthusiasm jumping up and down, watching Linda Fratianne in the closing moments of her free skate at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid.

 

[kwanfan1818]

When I volunteered at Skate America the last time it was in Everett, Frank Carroll came through registration during one of my shifts. I can't remember if the malfunction in the printer or the ID technology was blocking him or the person he was waiting for, but for those five minutes or so waiting for it to be fixed, he chatted with us, and was so smart and funny and engaging that it makes me smile whenever I think about it.

 

[savchenkoboss]

When I volunteered at Skate America the last time it was in Everett, Frank Carroll came through registration during one of my shifts. I can't remember if the malfunction in the printer or the ID technology was blocking him or the person he was waiting for, but for those five minutes or so waiting for it to be fixed, he chatted with us, and was so smart and funny and engaging that it makes me smile whenever I think about it.

He was a very kind and considerate man, and always the best dressed in skating. The only thing I didnt like about him was his outspoken bias towards his own skaters, but then again in another sense it would be nice for any skater to have a coach so deeply behind them as he was his own.