David Armbruster (swim coach)

David Alvin Armbruster Sr. (August 18, 1890-August 5, 1985) was an American swim coach who served as the first coach for the University of Iowa swim team from 1917-1958. In his long coaching career, he trained two swimmers who medaled in the Olympics, had fourteen of his swimmers capture NCAA titles, and led 75 of his swimmers to receive All American honors as collegians. He may be best known for helping to develop the "over the head" arm movement used in the modern butterfly, which he helped initially develop as a refinement to the breaststroke. Around 1934, Armbruster combined the over the head breaststroke recovery with the dolphin kick which later become the modern butterfly stroke. The butterfly stroke was not adopted as an official stroke separate from the breaststroke in swimming competitions until 1956. He is also known as one of several collegiate coaches who helped in the development and popularization of the flip turn, now used universally in training and competition.

Armbruster was born into a large family on August 18, 1890 in Spencerville, Ohio to German immigrants Franz F. and Augusta Armbruster. He studied three years at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, and then completed his education at the University of Iowa in Iowa City where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees.

In 1914, in preparation for career as a coach, he worked as the Physical Director for a local YMCA in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and had worked earlier with local YMCAs. In 1916 he taught swimming and supervised canoeing on a Lake at a YMCA summer camp in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

In April, 1918, though he had already begun his coaching career at the University of Iowa, he served during the WWI era, and received training in aero mechanics, and engines at New York University.