Swimming World Presents “Lessons with the Legends: Coach Gus Stager”

Lessons with the Legends

Swimming World Continues a series in which top coaches share some of the secrets of their success.

Coach Gus Stager

When alumnus Augustus P. Stager Jr. was named head swimming coach at the University of Michigan in 1954, it was a great disappointment to assistant Matt Mann Jr. and his legendary father. However, subsequent events—including NCAA championships in 1957-59 and 1961 plus 18 first- or second-place Big 10 finishes in 26 years, helped to assuage any Blue-and-Maize concerns.

Gus Stager, an accomplished New Jersey high school swimmer and “Pacific Army Olympics” 400 meter freestyle champion, enrolled at Michigan in 1946. In February 1947, he set an American freshman college record in the 200 yard freestyle (2:12.3), going on to be a three-time All-American and member of the Wolverines’ 1948 NCAA title-winning team.

Hired by Athletic Director Fritz Crisler following Matt Mann’s 31-year coaching stint, Stager mentored Michigan swimmers from 1954-79 and 1980-81. He compiled a career dual meet record of 169-39-1, going 23-3 against Big 10 and NCAA powerhouse Ohio State.

Stager, along with Indiana’s Doc Counsilman, was an early adapter of interval training made popular in Europe and utilized by Roger Bannister to break the four-minute mile. Through rigorous workouts, Stager extracted the best from his athletes, including Olympians Carl Robie, Dave Gillanders, Dick Hanley, Bill Farley, Ron Gora, Bumpy Jones, Jack and Bert Wardrop, Juan Bello and Joan Spillane. Among his NCAA champions were high-point winner Tony Tashnik, Fritz Myers, Cy Hopkins, Dick Nelson, Ron Clark and Frank Legacki.

Fritz Damm (four-year swimmer, 1964 grad):

“He was a life changer for me (a walk-on from a high school without a pool or team) who was willing to spend his valuable coaching and mentoring time with me in the same pool with mostly All-America and Olympic-caliber swimmers.
“Gus Stager basically taught me to race. My first meet was against archrival Michigan State my sophomore year, and he continued coaching and mentoring me through three years. Into adulthood, Gus was my shining star as he was to many others lucky enough to swim for him and Michigan.

To read more about the legend Gus Stager,
check out the full article in the March 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

Swimming World subscribers can download this issue in the Swimming World Vault!

[PHOTO CREDIT: PETER H. BICK]

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FEATURES

016 BUCKLE UP!
by Dan D’Addona
It has been four in a row for the Longhorns, but last year was the closest yet—with no less than three teams having a mathematical shot to win the team title heading into the final relay! Expect more of the same at this year’s men’s NCAAs.

020 STILL STANFORD
by Dan D’Addona
Stanford dominated last year’s women’s Division I NCAAs, and even though the Cardinal are favored to win their third straight championship, this year’s meet should be different.

023 ELITE TO REPEAT?
by Andy Ross and Cathleen Pruden
In NCAA Division II and III swimming and diving, the same elite teams seem to battle it out for the national championship each year. Both the Queens women’s and men’s squads have realistic shots at winning five titles in a row at D-IIs, while in D-III, Emory’s women will be looking for their 10th straight title, and Denison’s men are poised to win their third championship in four years.

026 BLUE-COLLAR SWIMMER
by David Rieder
Cal’s Andrew Seliskar has put in the hard work to enable him to swim at a higher level. He loves the sport, and he knows that if he wants to be successful at swimming, he has to be fully invested into it.

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: GUS STAGER
by Michael J. Stott

014 SPECIAL SETS: SEASON-LONG AND CHAMPIONSHIP PREP FOR 10-AND-UNDERS
by Michael J. Stott
When an elite swimmer shines, sunlight occasionally falls on the athlete’s coach. In the ensuing excitement, what is often overlooked is the contribution made years earlier by the 10-and-under coach who set the foundation for success and possible stardom by teaching proper mechanics, motivation and a love of the sport.

030 WHAT COACHES CAN LEARN FROM SWIMMERS (Part 1)
by Michael J. Stott
At first blush, education might appear to be a one-way street. Teachers teach, students learn. Same with sports—coaches give instruction, athletes absorb and, hopefully, execute. But time on the job often reveals a different dynamic. In the first of a two-part series, Swimming World shares epiphanies where swimmer interaction fundamentally altered coaching behavior.

040 Q&A WITH COACH JEAN-PAUL GOWDY
by Michael J. Stott

042 HOW THEY TRAIN: MADDIE KAUAHI
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: EXERCISE EQUIPMENT SERIES—DUMBBELLS
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

045 UP & COMERS: DANIEL BRANON
by Taylor Brien

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 BEYOND THE YARDS
019 OFFICIAL WORD
025 DID YOU KNOW? TRACY CAULKINS
032 2019 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY
044 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
046 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT

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