By Phillip Whitten<\/p>\n
In November, Dennis Pursley \u2013 who in 1989 became the first, and only, National Team Director of USA Swimming \u2013 announced he was stepping down to become the Head Coach of the Phoenix Swim Club, a club he helped found some 15 years ago. We asked Denny to sit down and share with us some of his thoughts and reflections after 13 years on the job as U.S. National Team Director. Here is how that discussion went.<\/i><\/p>\n
SwimInfo: Why did you decide to leave as the US National Team Director?
\nPursley<\/b>: It was extremely difficult because I\u2019ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience and opportunity I\u2019ve been afforded over the last 13 years. I wasn\u2019t looking to leave, and I was not dissatisfied with anything in the position or in USA Swimming. This new opportunity came out of the clear blue. At first, I was not receptive. I\u2019ve really enjoyed Colorado Springs. I did agree to look into the opportunity, and the more I looked the more appealing it became professionally. It turned out to be a wonderful situation for my family as well.<\/p>\n
SwimInfo: What do you feel have been your major accomplishments as National Team Director?
\nPursley<\/b>: Well, I hope I had inputs into a lot of the successes of USA Swimming. One of the things I struggled with in this position, unlike coaching, is that it\u2019s difficult to evaluate the impact I\u2019ve had on the national team program. I would hope I was able to encourage our top coaches and athletes to maintain a focus on major international competition \u2013 something that\u2019s not easy in the current climate. Most coaches and athletes don\u2019t have that focus in their daily routines. Also, within the politics of USAS, I\u2019ve always tried to keep international objectives in the forefront of our agenda.<\/p>\n
SwimInfo: What do you see as your legacy?
\nPursley<\/b>: That\u2019s tough to answer. Here again, I would hope that I will be remembered for having contributed to a renewed emphasis and interest in the importance of looking at international performance from long-term perspective, particularly long course swimming. I hope that emphasis and interest will filter down from the National Team to developmental levels. I would also hope I have been somewhat effective in establishing and reinforcing the team<\/i> concept within the National team format.<\/p>\n
What have been your major disappointments?
\nPursley<\/b>: That\u2019s hard to answer too because the National Team Director is not the head coach. The head coach is the final authority on every issue, and he lives or dies by the consequences. The National Team Director is more like a sales position. If you bat .500, you\u2019re doing exceptionally well. <\/p>\n
There were a lot of things I was unable to sell and make happen. But looking at the performance of the National Team, I would have liked to have seen a higher level of consistency in areas like team spirit and aggressive racing. Overall, I am very pleased. And you have to bear in mind that it\u2019s very difficult to maintain those high levels of team spirit and aggressive racing. Over the years, we did have peaks and valleys, where we didn\u2019t rally to the extent I would have liked. But I think the positives — as far as performance, and achieving goals and objectives go — far outweigh the disappointments.<\/p>\n
SwimInfo: Over the years you\u2019ve had conflicts with swimmers on the National Team, particularly the older ones. In retrospect, and considering the increasing numbers of post-graduates on the National Team, do you think you should have been more flexible in the way you dealt with these swimmers?
\nPursley<\/b>: I\u2019ve always maintained that we need to make sure that we take care of the three levels of maturity on our National Team, all of whom have been major contributors to our success: the high school swimmers, the college swimmers and the post grads.<\/p>\n
I have not observed a consistent trend in one direction or another in terms of the make-up of our team.. It appears to be a cyclic thing. For us to say our future lies with any one of those three groups would be a mistake. The trick is to make sure needs of all three are catered to. I\u2019m not one who feels that different commitment levels or conduct are appropriate for different levels. Everyone contributes for the relatively short period of time that the team is together. Very often it\u2019s the older team members who have contributed the most.<\/p>\n
Let me tell you a story that illustrates what I\u2019m talking about. In 2000, when we brought the team together, we had adult athletes like Dara Torres and even some who were parents, themselves \u2013 for example, Josh Davis. One of the first things I wanted to do was establish a curfew. I wanted it to be 10:30. I figured the older ones would push for midnight or 1:00 am. So I figured I\u2019d outsmart them, propose a 10 o\u2019clock curfew then negotiate it back to 10:30. I stood up and announced a 10 pm curfew, expecting a challenge. But it never came. The whole team accepted the 10 pm curfew for the entire six weeks. The older swimmers were willing to sacrifice their personal preferences for a positive team attitude. They did that through the whole trip. The response to the threat to our status as the #1 team in the world was team spirit. That proved to me that \u201cone for all, and all for one\u201d can<\/i> work. I think that spirit was the single greatest factor responsible for our success in 2000.<\/p>\n
One standard for all: without that principle, we would not have been so successful.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s another example. Before the \u201991 World Championships, Mike Barrowman asked if he could join the team late \u2013 he had something else going on — and threatened to pull off the team if he was not allowed to. I called his bluff, telling him you\u2019ll have to assemble with the rest of the team. Afterwards, he and his coach (Jozsef Nagy) thanked me, acknowledging they were wrong. In almost every situation where I have been somewhat flexible, I\u2019ve regretted it afterwards. It\u2019s created ill-will and morale problems.<\/p>\n
Having said all of that, I do believe in the old saying: \u201cnever say never.\u201d Exceptions may be warranted. However, the fewer and farther between they are, the more successful the team will be. My greatest legacy, I believe, is the team concept. Inherent therein is \u201cone for all, and all for one.\u201d You can\u2019t have your cake and eat it. You have to choose one direction or another,. We\u2019ve dug our heels in on this issue, and I really think it has contributed significantly to our success.<\/p>\n
SwimInfo: Looking ahead, what characteristics do you feel your successor should have?
\nPursley<\/b>: There are three primary characteristics: First, a good intuitive feel for the long-term picture of the technical issues needed to ensure the success of the National team. All of our great coaches have that, but their focus is necessarily on their daily work. That\u2019s why this position was established originally \u2013 so that someone would be looking at the long-term challenges from a technical perspective. Second, we need someone who is going to present and defend those technical interests in the political arena, both internationally and domestically. Third, he has to have the ability to handle the day-to-day business side of the administrative responsibilities that go with the job, overseeing all projects that are meant to be implemented out of the Colorado Springs office.<\/p>\n
SwimInfo: Any names you have in mind?
\nPursley<\/b>: I\u2019ve given Chuck my recommendations. I gave him a short list of names. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s appropriate to mention those names here. I\u2019ve shared with Chuck in detail the attributes I think would make for success in this job, and I\u2019ve provided a job description. Others have too. I will not be involved in the2 selection process beyond that.<\/p>\n
SwimInfo: Any advice for your successor?
\nPursley<\/b>: My main advice would be: hold your course. There have been many times when the direction I tried to move in faced really strong opposition, including from the coaches. I felt waffling, wavering would be the worst thing I could do. I decided early on that I would not operate in a vacuum, but I would solicit opinions from National Team coaches and act in a way that was compatible with the input I received. Problem was, a lot of times, there was no consensus. I had to decide which way to go. Sometimes there was strong opposition and resistance and, I must admit, it was tempting to give in. But I held my course and I think that was very important. That point of view was reinforced by the overwhelming response I\u2019ve received from the coaching community. Many coaches came and thanked me for not giving in to what they wanted to do. That\u2019s what coaches are looking for: someone who will stand up for his principles<\/p>\n
SwimInfo: Denny, you haven\u2019t been coaching on deck for 15 years. What changes do you expect in your new position?
\nPursley<\/b>: A number of changes: the way you interact with swimmers and parents. But really, it\u2019s just a continuation of trends that were visible 15 years ago and 15 years before that. There was a time when the coach\u2019s authority was not questioned. Now you have to be more of a salesman; you have to do a better job of selling and you have to sell why<\/i> you\u2019re doing what you\u2019re doing, and what you hope to accomplish. At the same time, you can\u2019t compromise on standards and directions for success and you have to get the most out of your athletes and your team. I\u2019d say that is more difficult today than it was 15 years ago.<\/p>\n
In the last 15 years, the sport has evolved through improved technology, as far as the science of swimming is concerned. The rules have changed\u2014for example, regarding underwater swimming. There has been a significant improvement in the biomechanics of the different strokes, particularly the breaststroke. All of this is a given.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t believe that there has been any progress in the area of the physiological conditioning of athletes. Maybe we\u2019ve even regressed. At Nationals in Fort Lauderdale last August, my wife remarked: \u201cI swam at the same meet in the same pool 23 years ago. The times I did in 1979 made consols. In 2002 they would have made the championship finals.\u201d<\/p>\n
In terms of depth, we\u2019re not as strong as we were 15 years ago. I believe that what we were doing 15 years ago will work at least as well today. To maximize success, I plan to combine the best of what we did then with what we know now. That\u2019s my goal.<\/p>\n
SwimInfo: How does it feel to be returning to the Phoenix Swim Club, a facility and club you helped found 13 years ago?
\nPursley<\/b>: Very special. I went there 15 years ago. It was a great opportunity, a dream come true. But the dream was not reality. As you know, the support for the team was short-lived, and our ship sprang leaks. I couldn\u2019t take a risk with my family. But the program has nine lives. It\u2019s survived more bizarre circumstances, more bizarre ownerships than anyone could imagine. If you wrote the story, Phil, you\u2019d have a best-seller. The club\u2019s survival is a tribute to the fortitude of the parents and the kids. Now, the new owner (Brophy Prep School) has brought back a level of stability and support that we had when the program first began. I wasn\u2019t looking to coach at Phoenix, but after I went down, spoke with the new owners and observed the high level of enthusiasm on the part of the coaches and swimmers, I decided I wanted to return.<\/p>\n
I have the same dream today as I did 15 years ago. How many coaches are fortunate enough to have two opportunities to fulfill the same dream? Fourteen years have passed since my first opportunity, and it\u2019s been a great experience working as USA Swimming\u2019s National Team Director. I consider myself very lucky.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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