Dennis Pursley

Dennis Pursley is a retired American swimming coach who was the head coach of the combined men's and women's Alabama Crimson Tide swimming and diving teams of University of Alabama from 2012 to 2019.[1] Several athletes Pursley coached have set world records, national records, and won medals in international competition. Pursley coached with his wife Mary Jo. They have five children.

Dennis Pursley
Biographical details
BornLouisville, Ky.[1]
Alma materUniversity of Alabama 1972
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2012-2019Alabama Crimson Tide Swimming & Diving
Accomplishments and honors
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

Coaching career

Pursley was an assistant to Crimson Tide coaches Don Gambril and John Foster in the 1970s.[2] 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.[3] In 2016, Pursley coached Kristian Gkolomeev to the Rio Olympics in the 50m and 100m freestyle.[4] He retired from coaching in April, 2019.[5]

Education

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

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

References
  1. "ROLLTIDE.COM - University of Alabama Official Athletics Site". rolltide.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  2. "Dennis Pursley Accepts Job as Head Coach of Alabama - Updated with Pursley Statement - Swimming World News". swimmingworldmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  3. "How Pursley Drew A Line Under Britain's 2012". swimvortex.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  4. "Alabama Coach Dennis Pursley: Rio Olympics "Highest Priority"". swimmingworldmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  5. "Swimming and Diving's Dennis Pursley Announces Retirement from Coaching". rolltide.com. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
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