Sport(s) Swimming Team Alabama Crimson Tide Alma mater University of Alabama | Title Swimming coach Conference SEC Conference | |
Dennis Pursley is an American swimming coach who is the current head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide swimming and diving teams of University of Alabama. Several athletes Pursley has coached have set world records, National records, and won medals in international competition. Pursley coaches with his wife Mary Jo have, they have five children.
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Coaching career
Pursley was an assistant to Crimson Tide coaches Don Gambril and John Foster in the 1970s. In 2016, Pursley coached Kristian Gkolomeev to the Rio Olympics in the 50m and 100m freestyle. After leaving Alabama, Pursley coached the Lakeside Swim Club, he became part of the coaching staff of the 1979 USA Pan American Games team. Pursley coached Mary T. Meagher, Glenn Mills, and others onto the USA Olympic swimming team in 1980. Pursley later became head coach of the Cincinnati Marlins. Prior to the 1984 Olympics, Pursley was named as the first head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport. AIS athletes Pursley coached won half the medals for Australia in the 1984 Olympic Games. Pursley was appointed the first National Team Director for USA Swimming in 1989. Pursley was coach for the British team for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Education
He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from University of Alabama in 1972 and 1973.