Dennis Pursley walks along the Alabama swimming deck and gazes up at three words that are plastered on the walls surrounding the swimming pools of the Aquatic Center: attitude, character and commitment.
The first-year head coach of The University of Alabama swimming and diving team is looking to start building a culture of excellence as he returns to his alma mater to close out his coaching career.
“I can’t think of any better scenario,” Pursley said. “This will be my last coaching job, and I hope it will be the longest as well. I’ve got plenty of enthusiasm and energy left, and I hope to be here for many years. But to finish up your career where you started 40 years prior, especially in a place that is really special to you, is just a privilege and opportunity that I don’t think many people have.”
Pursley is returning to the Capstone after serving as the head coach of British Swimming in the London Olympic Games. He has been in or around a pool for 54 years, and he has been involved in six Olympiads.
In 1989, Pursley was announced as the first National Team Director for USA Swimming, which gave him full responsibility for all aspects of the program. During his tenure until 2003, Pursley led USA Swimming to Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney.
“The opportunity to work with literally all of the top coaches and swimmers in the country closely during that period of time was a special experience,” Pursley said.
He said the epitome of his time as National Team Director was the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. That year, and the few years leading up to 2000, the Australians had formed a very strong team that was tough to beat. However, the American team came together and constructed what has been described by Sports Illustrated as the greatest team performance of all time, bringing home 14 gold medals.
“Everybody put aside any personal differences they might have had and really came together to respond to the challenge,” Pursley said. “They did exceptionally well and ended up dominating the competition. […] It was a lot of fun to be a part of that.”
In 2003, Pursley was selected as one of the “25 Most Influential People” in the history of USA Swimming, but his proudest moment came just three years later when, in 2006, he was inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“I can’t think of a higher honor really, because it’s one that you share with your peers that you’ve had the highest level of respect for,” Pursley said. “I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many of the most talented swimmers in the world over the years and had number of outstanding coaching opportunities that many coaches go through a whole career and never have. To be included in that group is a special honor.”
In his first season as head coach at Alabama, Pursley will look to use his experience in the sport’s highest levels of competition to benefit the Crimson Tide and help it develop a culture of excellence within its swimming and diving program.
“The pursuit of excellence, there’s not any secrets out there that people are unaware of,” Pursley said. “It’s just a matter of really internalizing these things and making them a part of who you are as an individual athlete and making it a part of who we are as a team.”
