Longtime Irvine coach Scott Hinman, a pioneer for girls water polo in the CIF-Southern Section and architect of the Vaqueros’ girls swimming dynasty, died Wednesday after collapsing while at a swim meet at Northwood High.
“He was doing something he loved,” Hinman’s wife, Barbie, said. “He loved (Irvine). … It’s a really good family.”
Hinman, 61, received CPR from an assistant coach on the pool deck and was transported to Hoag Hospital Irvine but couldn’t be revived, Barbie said. She said Wednesday night that she hadn’t received her husband’s cause of a death.
“It’s just surreal,” Barbie said. “I see him but I don’t believe it. … Total shock.”
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Hinman was not able to coach late in the girls water polo season because of a back issue, but he returned to Irvine about two weeks ago. He had recently learned that he had an enlarged spleen and a heart murmur, Barbie said.
Hinman hoped to teach one more year at Irvine and then retire after more than 35 years at the school, Barbie said.
On Wednesday, Barbie said she drove Hinman to Northwood and then left to finish certificates for the upcoming Irvine girls water polo banquet.
“I dropped him off at 2:30 and it was 3-something when I got the call,” Barbie said.
The swimmers at the meet were moved to the theater and counselors arrived for support.
Hinman’s legacy stretched from success in girls water polo and girls swimming to hosting major CIF water polo matches at the Woollett Aquatics Center.
He directed the Irvine Southern California girls water polo championships, which helped lead to the introduction of the sport in the Southern Section finals in 1998.
“He worked with CIF to get (girls water polo) as a sport,” Barbie said.
Hinman guided Irvine’s girls to a runner-up finish behind Newport Harbor in the Division 1 final in 1999. In 2000, the Vaqueros were the Division 1 runner-up to Foothill.
Irvine and the Woollett Aquatics Center later hosted the top semifinals in boys and girls water polo along with the finals.
“He was way ahead of his time,” former El Toro coach Don Stoll said. “He had girls playing water polo before girls water polo was a sport (with CIF).”
Starting in 1997, Hinman guided the Vaqueros’ girls swimming teams to eight consecutive CIF-SS Division 1 titles. He coached Olympian Amanda Beard, sprint standout Courtney Cashion and many of the county’s all-time top swimmers and relays.
“He’s all-Orange County, top-five coach for water polo and swimming,” Stoll said of Hinman.
Hinman is survived by his wife, Barbie, daughters, Crystal, 28, and Cory, 29, and son, Chase, 25. His daughters attended Tesoro and played water polo while his son graduated Irvine. Crystal is an assistant coach at Irvine.
He coached water polo and swimming with his wife for a few seasons at Irvine. Barbie then became the athletic secretary at the school. “Which was awesome,” Barbie said. “My office was right next to his.”