James Counsilman

Doc Counsilman
Counsilman in 1963
Biographical details
Born(1920-12-28)December 28, 1920
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJanuary 4, 2004(2004-01-04) (aged 83)
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Alma materOhio State University BA '47
University of Illinois MA '48
University of Iowa Phd. '51
Playing career
1940–1942Ohio State Buckeyes
1943-1945U.S. Army Air Corps
1946–1947Ohio State Buckeyes
Also Asst. to Coach Mike Peppe
PositionBreaststroke
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1947University of Illinois (MA)
Asst. to Coach Edward Manley
1948–1951University of Iowa (Phd.)
Asst. to Coach David Armbruster
1952–1957Cortland State Red Dragons
1957–1990Indiana Hoosiers
1964, 1976U.S. Olympic Swim Team
Head coaching record
Overall286-36-1 88.8 Win %
(Indiana U.)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973)
Awards
International Swimming Hall of Fame (1976)
Ohio State Hall of Fame (1988)
Indiana U. Hall of Fame (2001)
Distinguished Flying Cross (1945)
Medal record
Amateur Athletic Union
1946 Outdoor Championships 200 m Breaststroke
1946 Indoor Championships 300 yd Medley Relay
1942 Outdoor Championships 220 yd Breaststroke
1941 Indoor Championships 220 yd Breaststroke

James Edward "Doc" Counsilman (December 28, 1920 – January 4, 2004) was a nationally recognized American swimming competitor in the breaststroke who competed for Ohio State, and a swimming coach best known for coaching Indiana University from 1957 to 1990. During his coaching tenure at Indiana, he established an exceptional record of 286-36-1 in meets, and led the Indiana University swimming team to 6 consecutive NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships from 1968 to 1973. Counsilman trained and mentored a total of 48 Olympians. In addition to collegiate coaching, he served as head coach for the USA's Olympic swim teams at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1976 Montreal Olympics.