Dennis Pursley

Dennis Pursley is an American swimming coach who is the current head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide swimming and diving teams of University of Alabama.[1][2] Several athletes Pursley has coached have set world records, National records, and won medals in international competition. Pursley coaches with his wife Mary Jo, they have five children.

Dennis
Current position
TitleSwimming coach
TeamAlabama Crimson Tide
ConferenceSEC Conference
Biographical details
BornLouisville, Ky.[1]
Alma materUniversity of Alabama
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
  • ASCA Coach of the Year 1980
  • 1980 USA Olympic Swimming Coach

Coaching career

Pursley was an assistant to Crimson Tide coaches Don Gambril and John Foster in the 1970s.[3] In 2016, Pursley coached Kristian Gkolomeev to the Rio Olympics in the 50m and 100m freestyle.[4] After leaving Alabama, Pursley coached the Lakeside Swim Club, he became part of the coaching staff of the 1979 USA Pan American Games team. Pursley coached Mary T. Meagher, Glenn Mills, and others onto the USA Olympic swimming team in 1980. Pursley later became head coach of the Cincinnati Marlins. Prior to the 1984 Olympics, Pursley was named as the first head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). AIS athletes Pursley coached won half the medals for Australia in the 1984 Summer Olympics including Mark Stockwell. Pursley was appointed the first National Team Director for USA Swimming in 1989. Pursley was coach for the British team for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[5]

Education

He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from University of Alabama in 1972 and 1973.

Honors and awards
  • 25 most influential people in the history of USA Swimming in 2003.
  • American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006.
  • United States Olympic Committee Chairman's "Coaching Award" for 2000.
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References
  1. "ROLLTIDE.COM - University of Alabama Official Athletics Site". rolltide.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  2. "Alabama Head Coach Dennis Pursley Suspended For Rest of Regular Season". swimswam.com. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  3. "Dennis Pursley Accepts Job as Head Coach of Alabama - Updated with Pursley Statement - Swimming World News". swimmingworldmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  4. "Alabama Coach Dennis Pursley: Rio Olympics "Highest Priority"". swimmingworldmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  5. "dennis pursley michael scott british swimming london 2012 the verdict". swimvortex.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
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