WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua)-- Seven-time US Olympic swim coach George Haines died in his sleep at the age of 82, USA Swimming andthe Santa Clara Swim Club confirmed Tuesday.

    Haines, who died Monday, developed the mighty Santa Clara Swim Club program and produced 53 Olympic swimmers including such starsas Mark Spitz from 1960 through 1984 that accounted for 44 Olympicgold medals, 14 silvers and 10 bronzes, reports said from Santa Clara.

    Fifteen of the Santa Clara swimmers that Haines instructed are enshrined with him in the International Swimming Hall of Fame, which in 2001 named him Coach of the Century.

    Haines founded the Santa Clara Swim Club in 1951 with only 13 swimmers but for more than a generation the club's 50-meter pool was the foundation of a star-studded US swim program. Enditem