CSCAA Honors Doug Grooms with Richard E. Steadman Award
Doug Grooms has been selected as the 2024 Richard E. Steadman Award Winner for doing the most to spread happiness in the sport of swimming and diving.
February 12, 2024 - Doug Grooms, former head coach of Missouri S&T's swimming team, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Richard E. Steadman Award by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). This esteemed honor is bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to promoting happiness within the sport of swimming and diving. Grooms will be recognized at the 63rd Annual CSCAA College Swimming & Diving Awards on May 6th in Indianapolis, Indiana.
During his remarkable 24-year tenure as head coach of the Miners program, Grooms led his team to extraordinary success, with 13 top 10 national finishes, including a notable second-place performance in 2008. His leadership and guidance also resulted in third and fourth-place finishes in 2009 and 2007, respectively, showcasing the consistent excellence of the program under his stewardship.
At conference level the Miners also achieved outstanding success, earning Grooms the Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year Award six times. Prior to this, he received seven consecutive Coach of the Year honors during Missouri S&T's participation in the New South Intercollegiate Swimming Championships.
Under Grooms' tutelage, individual success flourished, with six national championship performances and over 370 All-America honors achieved by Miners athletes. Additionally, the program garnered recognition for academic excellence, consistently being named a CSCAA Scholar All-America team, and producing 19 CSCAA Academic All-Americans, the second-most among all Missouri S&T teams.
“Doug Grooms exemplified the true art of coaching,” said Samantha Barany, Executive Director of the CSCAA. “He maintained an unwavering commitment to athlete development, both as a person and as an athlete. He embodies the very best values a coach could possess and as he accepts the prestigious Richard E. Steadman award from the CSCAA, we not only celebrate his remarkable achievements but also recognize his enduring impact on those he had an opportunity to work with.”
Before his tenure as head coach, Grooms served as an assistant coach for six years, contributing to the team's ascent to top 10 finishes and record-breaking achievements. A former swimmer himself, Grooms competed at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State).
Grooms' dedication to coaching extends beyond the pool, as he previously served as a high school mentor and assistant coach in football and swimming before focusing solely on swimming at Missouri S&T. "Doug Grooms embodies the essence of coaching excellence, consistently inspiring athletes to surpass their potential and achieve greatness. His unwavering dedication to the sport and unparalleled leadership have left an indelible mark on the swimming community” said Head Kansas Women’s Swim Coach, Clark Campbell. “As he receives the prestigious Richard Steadman award from the CSCAA, we celebrate not only his remarkable achievements but also the profound impact he has had on countless lives. Doug's passion for coaching serves as inspiration, guiding the next generation of coaches towards success. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor."
The Steadman Award is conferred annually to a swimming or diving coach in high school, club, or university ranks who, in the opinion of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the CSCAA Forum, and the CSCAA, has done the most to spread happiness in Coach Steadman’s beloved sport of swimming and diving.
CSCAA members can register for the 63rd Annual Meetings and Awards Celebration at www.cscaa.org/meetings. All registrations include a ticket to the Awards Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis. Questions can be directed to: all@cscaa.org
Previous Recipients
2023 - Dan Colella - Duke University 2022 - Sam Kendricks, Voice of College Swimming
2021 - Dan Ross, Purdue University
2020 - Mike Rawleigh, Gettysburg College
2019 - Barbara Jahn, UC-Davis
2018 - Cliff Devries, Rochester Institute of Technology
2017 - Casey Converse, Air Force Academy
2016 - Erin Hurley, Grinnell College
2015 - C. Rob Orr, Princeton University
2014 - Wally Morton, Cleveland State
2013 - Nancy Bigelow, Tufts University
2012 - George Kennedy, Johns Hopkins
2011 - Harvey Humphries, Georgia
2010 - Jean Freeman, Minnesota
2009 - Peter Accardy, Cal State Northridge
2008 - Jim Richardson, Michigan, Cathy Wright-Eger, Purdue
2007 - Jim Ellis, Philadelphia Dept. of Rec
2006 - Bob Pearson, Macalester College
2005 - Anne Goodman James, Arkansas
2004 - Paula Miller, Ithaca College
2003 - Tony Lisa, Rowan University
2002 - Bob Groseth, Northwestern
2001 - John Mattos, Colorado State
2000 - David Hauck, St. Olaf
1999 - Bill Miller, Clarion University
1998 - Don Gambril, Alabama
1997 - Susan Bassett, William Smith
1996 - Bill Campbell, Maryland
1995 - Archie Harris, Illinois State
1994 - Charlie Butt, Bowdoin College
1993 - Tim Welsh, Notre Dame
1992 - Donald R. Megerle, Tufts University
About the CSCAA
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) is the first professional association of college coaches in the United States. The CSCAA is dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming and diving at the collegiate level. The CSCAA works to
protect, promote and expand competitive intercollegiate swimming and diving programs;
recognize outstanding achievements by coaches, swimmers and divers;
promote communication and cooperation within swimming and diving and with our partner National Governing Bodies, the NCAA, NAIA and Junior College Associations;
provide ongoing educational and leadership training for coaches and athletes; and serve as a resource to its membership and for the general public.