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Q&A with Delta State Head Coach Dan’l Murray
By Michael J. Stott
In his 10 years at the helm of Division II Delta State, Dan’l Murray has turned his men and women’s squads into perennial Top 10 NCAA finishers. Since Coach Murray has been at Delta State, 39 of his student-athletes have earned 153 CSCAA NCAA-Division II All-America honors (first team, top 8).
CREDENTIALS
• Head coach, men’s and women’s swimming, Delta State University, 2010-present
• Head coach, Delta Aquatic Club, 2005-19
• Head coach, Green Valley Park (Greensboro, N.C.), 2002-05
• Mississippi Swimming, technical planning chair, 2009; head zone coach, 2006-09
• Men’s NCAA-II Coach of the Year (2019)
• 6x NCAA-II Top 10 finishes (4x men, runner-up 2019; 2x women)
• 10x New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference Coach of the Year (6x men, 4x women)
Q. SWIMMING WORLD: Who and what were some of your coaching influences?
A. COACH DAN’L MURRAY: I have had very charismatic and energetic coaches throughout my swimming career. Each had a significant impact on my coaching philosophy and approach to the sport. My dad coached my early baseball teams. Sandy McNary coached my Page High School (Greensboro, N.C.) team. My age group coaches in North Carolina were Jennifer Post, Chrissy Olson, John McCormick and Angelo Kontoulas. Early in my club coaching career, Jay Dodson from STAR Aquatics (N.C.) showed me the right way to work with parents and athletes in a club setting.
SW: While head coach at Delta Aquatic Club, you guided team growth from 50 to more than 200 swimmers. How?
DM: Legendary Delta State coach Ronnie Mayers was instrumental in beginning both the club (’70s) and the college teams (’80s). When I arrived in July 2005, the parent board matched my enthusiasm and was very supportive. The aquatic center, an on-campus 50-meter facility, opened in 2001. Having reliable pool space was a major factor in building quality programs.
SW: DSU has emerged as an NCAA D-II power. How so?
DM: Having a well-maintained 50-meter facility on campus makes Delta State one of the top swimming and diving destinations in the country. We have a committed staff, and Coach Kyle Friesenhahn has done a fantastic job building our diving program. In the last two years, full-time strength and conditioning coach Kevin Rodriguez has energized our squads.
We enjoy terrific support from the administration—from athletic director Mike Kinnison to university president William LaForge, who is a constant presence at our meets. At last year’s final home meet, he joined our team tradition and jumped into the pool to celebrate!
To read the complete Q&A with coach Murray,
Check out the full article in Swimming World’s October 2020 issue, available now!
[PHOTO CREDIT: BECCA WYANT/FINIS, INC. PHOTOGRAPHY]
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Swimming World Magazine October 2020 Issue
FEATURES
012 WORKING FOR CHANGE
by David Rieder
In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, elite swimmers Lia Neal and Jacob Pebley created Swimmers for Change to promote diversity and to make swimming a more inclusive sport and a more inclusive community.
020 THE TROUBLE WITH SPRINTERS (Part 4): REVISITING THE CAREER OF GARY HALL JR.
by Bruce Wigo
As Dave Marsh and Mike Bottom explained in the previous issue, if there is a problem with sprinters, it is because, mentally, they are wired differently from other athletes. Potential trouble then seems to start when coaches and administrators are unable to understand their behavior and their needs. But while causing trouble for some, the aquatic sports world would not be where it is today without the rebellious personalities of sprinters.
026 DEFYING ALL ODDS
by John Lohn
There is no doubt that the Summer of 2004 remains the defining moment in South African swimming history. That’s when Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling shocked the world with their Olympic gold medal and world record-setting performance in the men’s 400 meter freestyle relay in Athens.
COACHING
010 PLAN B: WHEN BEST-LAID PLANS GO AWRY
by Michael J. Stott
Bolstering swimmers—in sickness and health—is part and parcel of a coach’s job. When done right, everybody wins.
038 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: DR. ANDERS ERICSSON’S CONCEPT OF DELIBERATE PRACTICE
by Rod Havriluk
Dr. Anders Ericsson left a vital legacy for athletes striving to become experts. His deliberate practice concept specifies the key components that help athletes progress to an expert level. The success of deliberate practice suggests that a coach prioritize deliberate practice strategies in team training and relegate conditioning to secondary importance.
040 SPECIAL SETS: MICHAEL PHELPS—FROM GOOD TO GREAT
by Michael J. Stott
The sets included in this article are taken from the 2001-02 short course and early long course season. They are a representative sample of Coach Bob Bowman’s early program in developing Michael Phelps as the greatest Olympic swimmer of all time.
043 Q&A WITH COACH DAN’L MURRAY
by Michael J. Stott
044 HOW THEY TRAIN EMANUEL FAVA
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
030 DRYSIDE TRAINING: NO SEASON, NO RACING…NOW WHAT?
by J.R. Rosania
This pandemic has shut down our competition calendar. Whether it’s a high school, college, professional or Olympic season, we need to perform exercises that will help us stay strong, fast and explosive.
JUNIOR SWIMMER
046 UP & COMERS: EMILY WAY
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
015 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
023 DID YOU KNOW? MARY HOERGER
031 PREP SCHOOL DIRECTORY
042 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
047 GUTTERTALK
049 PARTING SHOT
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Mathew Mixon