By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. Jan 30, 2026
PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Gary Kenworthy, known across Placerville and El Dorado County simply as “Coach Kenworthy,” a longtime educator, coach and architect of local athletic programs, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. He was 86.
Kenworthy was a cornerstone of El Dorado High School athletics for nearly four decades, dedicating 37 years to teaching and coaching at the campus. He served as the school’s physical education director throughout his tenure and closed his career as athletic director during his final two years, according to family members and former colleagues.
While widely recognized for his leadership in swimming, Kenworthy coached wherever the school needed him. His résumé included football, wrestling and skiing, with a notable role as linebackers coach on El Dorado High’s 1983 league championship football team. Former players recall a coach who emphasized discipline, accountability and teamwork over individual accolades.
In 1969, Kenworthy successfully advocated for a co-ed physical education program at El Dorado High School, the first of its kind in California at the time. He also left a physical imprint on the campus, personally helping clear trees to create baseball fields and championing the construction of the school’s swimming pool — a facility that would anchor generations of local aquatic programs.
Beyond the high school, Kenworthy co-founded the Dry Diggins Dolphins swim team and coached the program for 30 years, guiding it to sustained success in the Greater Sacramento area. Under his leadership, the Dolphins compiled a formidable competitive record and became a training ground for thousands of local swimmers.
At his home in Placerville, Kenworthy operated the Kenworthy Swim School, teaching generations of El Dorado County children a skill many families credit with saving lives. Earlier in his life, he worked as a river lifeguard at a popular local swimming spot, performing more than 100 documented rescues without a single drowning on his watch.
“Gary believed that teaching someone to swim was about more than sport — it was about confidence, safety and responsibility,”
his family said in a statement.
“He measured success by the people he helped, not the trophies on the wall.”
Those trophies and plaques, however, are many. Kenworthy’s family game room holds decades of tributes from athletic organizations recognizing his service as a coach and athletic director across four sports. In his honor, the Dry Diggins Dolphins Parent Club established the Gary Kenworthy Loyalty Scholarship, awarding $100 to $1,000 to graduating seniors who demonstrate long-term commitment to the team.
Known in the community for “The Kenworthy Way,” his coaching philosophy emphasized fundamentals, consistency and character. Former athletes often describe him as the backbone of Placerville swimming and a steady presence on decks, fields and sidelines for more than 40 years.
Originally from Spokane, Washington, Kenworthy was a collegiate football player at the University of Idaho in the late 1950s, earning letters with the Vandals and laying the foundation for his lifelong coaching career.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carol; their four children; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2016 and their 65th in 2021.
Information regarding memorial services will be announced by the family.
