Swimming icon impacted IU, world

The swimming world lost one of its greatest men last week when James "Doc" Counsilman died in his sleep early Jan. 4 because of complications after his 25 year battle with Parkinson's disease. \nFor the last six and a half years, Counsilman spent his time at Meadowood Retirement Community, where Marjorie, his wife of 60 years, said he became a prisoner in his own body because of the disease. \n"He had a wonderful career," Marjorie said. "I got to share all of that. I don't know how anyone could have been more fulfilled (with their life). He was obsessed with competitive swimming."\nHeralded as one of the greatest swimming minds in the world, Counsilman was revered not only because of his impeccable accomplishments, but his breakthrough research as well.\nCounsilman's 1968 book, "The Science of Swimming", which has become known as the bible of competitive swimming, has been published in over 20 languages worldwide. His research, although controversial, revolutionized swimming and is still highly looked upon today, a book that U.S. Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus said every swim coach should read.\n"Any swim coach today of any age who has not read "Doc" Counsilman's "The Science of Swimming" cannot be taken seriously as a swim coach," he said.\nDuring his 33 years as the IU men's swimming coach, Counsilman solidified his place among the world's best coaches -- if not the world's best.\nIn his first year at IU, 1957, Counsilman's men finished fourth in both the Big Ten and the NCAA. But it wasn't long before success came the way of the Hoosiers. Beginning in 1961, Counsilman coached IU to 20 consecutive Big Ten championships, and during that span, the Hoosiers rattled off six consecutive NCAA Championships between 1968 and 1973. \nLeaving IU in 1990, Counsilman went off into the sunset with 23 total Big Ten titles, the six NCAA titles, two national coach of the year awards, 177 Big Ten individual championships, 18 undefeated seasons and a 285-41 overall record. \nHe coached over 400 All-Americans during his time at IU. \n"He was the greatest swimming coach ever, and no one would argue that point," IU swimming coach Ray Looze said. \nBut, Counsilman's success wasn't limited to the collegiate level. \nAs coach of the 1964 and 1976 U.S. Olympic swimming teams, Counsilman showed American swimming was a force to be reckoned with. \nHis 1964 Tokyo team won nine of 11 gold medals, and 12 years later in Montreal, Counsilman coached his team to 12 of 13 gold medals, records which display the sheer dominance that the Americans exercised during Counsilman's reign as coach. Headlining his 1976 national team was arguably the greatest American swimmer ever -- Mark Spitz. \nOf the 60 Olympians Counsilman coached, 48 of them were medalists, with 17 gold medal winners, 18 silver and 13 bronze to go along with the five gold medal winning relay teams. \nAccording to Wieglus, the impact that Counsilman left on American swimming is still apparent today.\n"What Doc Counsilman did in so many ways was to legitimize swimming as a sport. His work as a coach, scientist and motivational leader brought recognition to swimming," Wielgus said.\nHowever respected Counsilman was in the United States, he was equally respected around the world on the Olympic and international level, Wieglus said.\nIn 1979, at the age of 58, Counsilman swam the English Channel in 13 hours and seven minutes. \nThe older Counsilman got, the more respected he became around the world. \nOn top of being a world class swimming coach, Counsilman was a father of four and a husband. All four Counsilman children became swimmers, Marjorie said.\nCounsilman left behind a sport that he touched in so many ways, and his legacy will forever be held, at least here at IU. In 1996, IU opened the Counsilman/Billingsley Aquatic Center, the IU swim team's home pool. \nWieglus compared the impact on swimming Councilman had to the impact that John Wooden and Adolph Rupp had on college basketball. \n"He's the patron saint of swim coaches," Wieglus said. \nMarjorie said he was becoming memorialized even before his death because of his condition during the last six and a half years. \n"He was a very committed person to his sport," she said. "He did everything he could to educated himself."\nFor Marjorie, looking back on "Doc's'" life, he had the perfect package to be as successful as he was. \n"He had a combination of the right attributes," she said. "There are certain things that coaches have to have, and he had more of them than many people do."\nA memorial service is being planned for April. \n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.