Remembering a coaching legend

Friends, family and swimmers alike gathered Sunday to celebrate and commemorate the life of former IU swimming coach James "Doc" Counsilman, who passed away Jan. 4 at the age of 83. The Whittenberger Auditorium was filled to the brim with anyone and everyone whose life was touched by Counsilman, including more than 20 Olympic swimmers.\nCounsilman coached swimming at IU for more than 30 years and led the team to 23 conference titles, including 20 consecutive conference championships from 1961 to 1980. He also coached two of the most successful U.S. Olympic teams in history in the 1964 and 1976 squads. The 1976 team won 12 of 13 possible gold medals, and Counsilman led swimmers to set world records in every single event. \nBut his greatest contribution came in the form of a book titled "The Science of Swimming," master of ceremonies and former coach Cecil Colwin said.\n"(The book) completely revolutionized the understanding of swimming," Colwin said. "It truly showed the value of the scientific approach to swimming."\nSome of those in attendance included seven-time gold medal winner Mark Spitz, IU alumnus Alan Somers and 1936 backstroke champion Adolph Kiefer. Somers and Kiefer were among 16 presenters who shared stories, memories and accolades of the man they simply referred to as "Doc."\n"Other coaches didn't have any imagination, they taught the same thing over and over again," former IU diving coach Hobie Billingsley said. "That's what set Doc apart was that he wasn't that way."\nThe impact Counsilman had on a national and international level didn't come without first working his way through the collegiate ranks. His name first arose at the national level when he led one of his Division III swimmers to an eventual bronze medal in the Olympics. \nUpon arriving at IU, Counsilman quickly turned a team with an inadequate, four-lane swimming pool into a national powerhouse and unprecedented olympic feeder team. By the time his tenure ended, Counsilman had reached a status in IU history reserved for only a select few.\n"(Counsilman), along with (former IU President) Herman Wells and maybe a few others, define Indiana University," IU Vice President and Athletics Director Terry Clapacs said. "He paved the way for (former men's basketball coach Bob) Knight, (former track and cross country coach Sam) Bell and (former men's soccer coach Jerry) Yeagley to compete not only on a national level, but an international level."\nFor many of those who spoke Sunday, it offered an opportunity to share some of their favorite stories of a man who touched countless lives. Many made reference of Counsilman's love for food, reckless driving and the lives of every athlete he coached. \n"Kids didn't know that when they came (to IU), they weren't joining a team, they were joining a family," Billingsley said.\nColwin expressed to everyone that Counsilman's determination and leadership had been evident his entire life, especially when winning a distinguished flying medal in World War II. \nWhen his B-24 bomber suffered extensive damage to the landing gear, Counsilman originally told the rest of the crew to bail and let him attempt to land the plane. \nBut the crew stayed, and under Counsilman's leadership and quick thinking to evenly distribute weight for the crash landing, they successfully landed the plane and every life was spared.\nCounsilman's amazing abilities as a coach, scientist, inventor, cinematogropher, family man and friend were all made evident over the course of the afternoon. The packed room was simply evidence of all Counsilman had been able to accomplish, as each of those in attendance carried a piece of "Doc" with them. Each who spoke made it clear the legacy of Doc Counsilman had not only changed the sport of swimming forever, but also the lives of every person he had met.\n-- Contact senior writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.