The 46th Annual Collegiate Swimming Coaches Awards Banquet and Convention wrapped up this afternoon at the Music City Sheraton in Nashville, TN. The convention offered a mix of business, socialization, and education for the estimated 130 participants. The meetings were highlighted by the introduction of incoming executive director, talks by several high-profile coaches, animated discussion of NCAA legislation, and awards banquet.

Dr. Phillip Whitten was formally introduced as the CSCAA’s incoming Executive Director. [Related Article] A highly-regarded journalist and advocate for the sport of swimming, Whitten articulated a broad and ambitious vision for the Association. That vision included the outlining of a three-year plan that would work to turn the tide of program elimination, and create new avenues for the promotion and growth of the sport and offer educational opportunities for the membership.

In the coming months, the CSCAA will undertake workshops to train coaches in proven methods for program growth. Dr. Whitten noted the need for growth at the NCAA Division II and NAIA levels, but grabbed the attention of his audience with the announcement that the CSCAA has already begun active work towards the reinstatement of the UCLA men’s program. With strides having been already been made both fiscally and politically, it is hoped that the Bruin men would be in position to compete in the Fall of 2009. UCLA recently unveiled plans for a new aquatic center, set to begin construction in Fall 2007. [Related Article] In addition to the tangible value of reviving one of the sport’s great programs, the reinstatement would also carry symbolic value for other programs and universities searching to expand or revive their own teams. Whitten also indicated that in each Big XII school where swimming had been eliminated in the past several years, a new athletic director is in place. [Related Article]

Among the other ideas on the horizon were new televised events including a national high school championship, and collegiate dual-meet championship. Educationally, the association, under Whitten’s leadership would address “unspoken problems” such as anorexia and bulimia, and has already convened a taskforce to address and educate coaches on the risks resulting from initiations and hazing.

Dr. Whitten concluded his remarks with an appeal for membership assistance in “shepparding these tasks into reality” and promised a responsiveness not seen from the association in the recent years, forcefully declaring that, “the CSCAA is a dynamic organization now.”

On Tuesday, the association showcased its best with the annual awards banquet. Following a feast of chicken, salmon, and prime rib, attention turned to a recognition of each division’s coaches- and swimmer’s-of-the-year, before turning to a trio of special awards.

This year’s Richard Steadman plaque was awarded to Bob Pearson (Macalester College). The Steadman award is conferred annually to a coach who in the opinion of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, CSCAA Forum and CSCAA membership, has done the most to spread happiness in the sport. Introduced by St. Olaf’s David Hauck (making a rare appearance in sport coat and tie), the normally jovial Pearson was visibly moved by the award and made note of previous Steadman award recipients in the audience including Hauck, Tim Welsh (Notre Dame), Don Gambrill (Alabama), Bob Groseth (Northwestern), Tony Lisa (Rowan), Paula Miller (Ithaca) and Anne Goodman James (Arkansas).

Attention then turned to USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus. Wielgus conferred with the Charles McCaffree Award for, in his own words, “just doing what I’m supposed to.” Named after the longtime Michigan State coach, the McCaffree Award is bestowed on an individual who has achieved outstanding success in a field other than aquatics.

The final award of the evening, the National Collegiate Trophy was given to former Harvard and Alabama head coach Don Gambrill. Eddie Sinnott (SMU) introduced the two-time award-winner, and an account of Gambrill’s impact on his own coaching career and on the sport in general. Gambrill thanked the crowd for its support and attendance and appeared to admonish coaches who opted not to attend the convention.

Service awards were also handed out by the association. Those awards went to Mark Davin (American University) and Kiki Jacobs (Washington & Lee) for fifteen years of service; Dave Clark (UW-Milwaukee), Stan Crump (Brigham Young), Rich Morris (Rollins), and Richard Sybesma (Texas Christian) for twenty-five years of service and Paula Miller (Ithaca), and Nancy Bigelow (Tufts), for thirty years of coaching. Master Coach awards were also granted to Clark and Dickinson’s Paul Richards. Current Executive Director Bob Boettner, who was to have been saluted for his years of service to the Association, was absent from the banquet.

The convention also provided participants an update on, and opportunity to voice their concerns on association and NCAA activities. Illinois head coach and NCAA Legislative Committee Chair Sue Novitsky, reviewed NCAA legislation. Chief among the concerns was a resolution that prohibits any head-to-head competition between intercollegiate and interscholastic student-athletes. As written, the legislation would effectively prohibit collegiate athletes from representing their universities at events such as the US Open or Spring Nationals. The NCAA further rejected a proposal to add two women’s scholarships to the existing maximum of fourteen though volleyball and soccer were granted increases. At present, the NCAA has asked the CSCAA for comment on limits on the number of coaches recruiting off-campus, and potential restrictions on text messaging in the recruiting process. Novitsky also explained that the NCAA Amateurism Clearninghouse would be coming online later this summer for all incoming student athletes.

The association also took action on several internal issues. The roles of Treasurer and Secretary were approved as one-year appointments with Chuck Knoles (Pittsburgh) and Joel Shinofield (Washington & Lee) reaffirmed in their current roles. Bob Groseth (Northwestern) was elected by acclimation to a vacant Division I board position while Mickey Wender (Washington) was elected to a newly-created at-large board position.

Knoles addressed the membership with a treasurer’s report. He expressed concern at accumulating association debt and announced a new dues structure that would go into effect July 1st. Under the new structure, all assistant fees have been eliminated and programs would now be set at $150 per program ($300 for combined programs). Knoles and past-president Tim Powers (BYU) explained that was necessary in order to fund the Executive Director through dues. Previously, the Director was charged with task of raising his own salary through sponsorships and commissions. Further the association had found previously been unable to take action. The new structure will enable the association to be more responsive to membership concerns.