A native of Dallas, Nesbit set a national age group record at age 10 and an American record as a sophomore at Highland Park High School and led the school to three state titles. He was the first Texan to swim the 100-yard breaststroke in under one minute. At A&M and UT Arlington he was a 10-time all-American, 7-time NCAA champion, and he set three NCAA records. He has set American and world records as a U.S. Masters swimmer. Ric has coached at all levels for more than 40 years in Texas.