February 13, 2024 -Longtime Minnesota head coach Dennis Dale has been named the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). This award, selected by the CSCAA’s Board of Directors, recognizes individuals whose efforts best exemplify the integrity and ideals of collegiate swimming and who has achieved significant success in the sport while imparting the educational and character-building qualities of the collegiate swimming experience. Dale will be recognized at the 63rd Annual CSCAA College Swimming & Diving Awards on May 6th, in Indianapolis at the Hyatt Regency.

”Dennis Dale’s dedication to excellence in coaching has not only shaped champions in the pool but also inspired generations of coaches. His pursuit of excellence is evident by the accolades he has earned along his coaching journey - none of those accolades as impressive as the number of swimmers and peers he has had the opportunity to positively impact.” said Samantha Barany, Executive Director of the CSCAA. “As he receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the CSCAA, Dennis Dale reminds us that perseverance and mentorship can leave an indelible mark on the world of swimming and diving. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor.”

Dennis Dale, an All-American swimmer at Minnesota in 1967, returned to his alma mater as the seventh head swimming and diving coach from 1985 to 2014. During his tenure, Dale, a six-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, led Minnesota to seven Big Ten titles, including the first championship in 70 years in 1996.

Under Dale's guidance, the Minnesota men consistently excelled, never finishing below fourth at the Big Ten Championships in his last 26 seasons. They achieved five consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships from 2000 to 2004 and boasted over 100 All-Americans in the past two decades.

Dale's coaching prowess resulted in 48 individual Big Ten titles and 38 relay crowns for Minnesota. Notably, his emphasis on academics led to 181 Academic All-Big Ten honors since 2001 and 31 of his student-athletes earning Academic All-America honors.

Following his tenure at Minnesota, Dale extended his influential presence on the pool deck by becoming an associate head coach with the Indiana swimming and diving coaching staff in 2014. Renowned for his expertise in sprint coaching, Dennis played a pivotal role in enhancing Indiana's sprint program and contributing to the success of Olympian Blake Pieroni. Dale concluded his coaching career after the 2017 season, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in the sport.

“Dennis Dale has distinguished himself as one of the greatest Big Ten men's swimming coaches of all time. He won the Big Ten men’s team title 7 times and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year 6 times.  When we hired Dennis in 2014, sprinting was the greatest weakness for the Indiana program” said Indiana Head Coach, Ray Looze. “All that changed with Dennis in year one and far more importantly we have continued to have one of the strongest sprint groups in the NCAA as a lasting legacy to Coach Dale. He has etched his legacy, not just in victories, but in the lives he's touched and the champions he's molded. His dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence have made waves beyond measure. Congratulations to Dennis Dale on receiving the CSCAA Lifetime Achievement Award!"

CSCAA members can register for the 63rd Annual Meetings and Awards Celebration at www.cscaa.org/meetings. All registrations include a ticket to the Award Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency. Questions can be directed to: all@cscaa.org

Previous Recipients

2023 - Jack Bauerle - University of Georgia 2022 - Terry Ganley, University of Minnesota
2021 - Rick Walker, Southern Illinois
2019 - Nancy Bigelow, Tufts University
2018 - John Patnott, Hope College & Jon Lederhouse, Wheaton College
2017 - Bev Ball, McMurray University
2016 - George Kennedy, Johns Hopkins
2014 - Jon Urbanchek, Michigan
2013 - Skip Kenney, Stanford
2012 - Jim Steen, Kenyon College
2011 - Susan Teeter, Princeton
2010 - Nort Thornton, California & Peter Daland, Southern California
2009 - Richard Quick, Auburn

About the CSCAA

Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) – the first organization of college coaches in America - is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming & diving at the collegiate level.