Dennis Pursley was a competitive swimmer and is a retired American swimming coach who served as head coach of the combined men's and women's teams at the University of Alabama from 2012 to 2019 and was a five time Olympic coach.^[2][1] Several athletes Pursley coached have set world records, national records, and won medals in the Olympics and international competition.^[3]

Early education and swimming

Pursley attended and graduated Trinity High School in Louisville Kentucky, where he was a state champion several years, a team captain and All American. He graduated in 1968, and enrolled at the University of Alabama.^[2]

Swimming for the University of Alabama, he earned All-Southeastern Conference honors and the 1969 SEC 200 breaststroke title. He completed a bachelor's degree in 1972 and a master's degree in 1973.^[2][4]

Coaching career

University of Alabama

Pursley was an assistant to Crimson Tide Hall of Fame Coach Don Gambril and John Foster in the 1970s. He was Head Swim Coach at Alabama for both the Men's and Women's teams from 2012 to 2019.^[5]

Lakeside swim club

After leaving Alabama, Pursley coached the Lakeside Swim Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Originally a rock quarry, the swim club became a center for competitive swimming by the 1940s, and has since mentored ten Olympians.^[6]

Coach for local and international teams

He became part of the coaching staff of the 1979 USA Pan American Games team. Pursley coached Mary T. Meagher, whom he had formerly coached at Louisville's Lakeside Swim Club, Glenn Mills, and others onto the USA Olympic swimming team in 1980. He later became head coach of the Cincinnati Marlins, a highly successful club, founded in 1961, with frequent competitions and quality facilities located in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.^[7] Prior to the 1984 Olympics, Pursley was named as the first head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). AIS athletes Pursley coached included Mark Stockwell and won half the medals for Australia in the 1984 Summer Olympics.

USA Swimming National Director

Pursley was appointed the first National Team Director for USA Swimming in 1989, and held the position for 14 years, through 2003. During his tenure the medals awarded to the team increased dramatically.^[8]

He served as the British Team coach for the 2012 Summer Olympics.^[9] In 2016, Pursley coached Kristian Gkolomeev to the Rio Olympics in the 50m and 100m freestyle.^[10] He retired from coaching in April, 2019.^[11][12]

Honors and awards

• 1980 ASCA Coach of the Year
• 1980 USA Olympic Swimming Coach
• United States Olympic Committee Chairman's "Coaching Award" for 2000
• 25 most influential people in the history of USA Swimming in 2003
• Inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006