Background

James E. Counsilman was born on December 28, 1920, in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. He was the son of Joseph Walter and Ottilia Lena Counsilman. By the time Counsilman was born, his parents' marriage had dissolved. His father, a circus barker, left the family to follow his trade. Jim and his older brother, Joe, moved to St. Louis with their mother. The Counsilman boys taught themselves to swim in a local fish hatchery while their mother ran hospital boarding houses downtown.

Education

James E. Counsilman completed his Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio State University in 1947. This was followed by a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois in 1948, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in physical education from the University of Iowa in 1951.

Career

James E. Counsilman and his brother taught themselves to swim in a local fish hatchery while their mother ran hospital boarding houses downtown. Jim eventually found an indoor pool at the Forest Park YMCA, and there coach Ernie Vornbrock noticed Counsilman's natural talent in the water. The two trained regularly after school. Counsilman's high school career was coming to an end before he began to think about plans for the future. The national meet was held in St. Louis the year after Counsilman graduated and he competed in several of the events. Ohio State swimming coach Mike Peppe saw Counsilman swim and was impressed by his performance. After a brief conversation with Peppe, Counsilman was soon on his way to Ohio State to swim for the Buckeyes.

Counsilman adapted quickly to the college classroom and collegiate swimming competition. He set world records in the 50-meter and 300-yard breaststroke events early in his collegiate career. The summer after his freshman year he was working at the Cuyahoga Falls swimming pool. In 1943, two weeks before the AAU meet, Counsilman was called to serve in the Army Air Corps. He had enlisted with the promise that his call-up was at least a year away; however, World War II interrupted his chances for a national title. Though the war was beginning to wind down, new troops were still being called. Counsilman was assigned to fly the B-24, a bomber also known as the "Liberator."

After serving in the United States Army Air Forces in Europe during World War II as a bomber pilot, he completed his undergraduate studies and he was back at Ohio State as swimming team captain. From 1947 to 1948 he was an assistant swimming coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. From 1948 to 1952 he was an instructor at Iowa State University and an assistant professor in 1952. From 1952 to 1954 he served as an assistant professor at the State University of New York College at Cortland, and an associate professor from 1954 to 1957, where he had a coaching job.

In 1957, Counsilman moved his family to Bloomington, Indiana, and was assistant coach of the Indiana University men's swimming team. He also coached swimmers at the Indianapolis Athletic Club. In 1958, Indiana University named Doc Counsilman head coach. In addition to coaching Indiana University to an eventual 20 consecutive Big Ten wins, six consecutive NCAA wins, and 12 national AAU wins, Doc's success extended to the international arena. Doc was head swimming coach of the two most successful Olympic men's swimming teams in 1964 (Tokyo) and 1976 (Montreal). In 1976, the United States men's swimming team won 12 of possible 13 gold medals and brought home over two-thirds of all possible medals.

In 1969 he wrote the influential The Science of Swimming. He was also the author of Competitive Swimming Manual for Coaches and Swimmers (1977), The Complete Book of Swimming (1977), and, with his son, Brian, The New Science of Swimming (1994).

Achievements

• James E. Counsilman is considered the most innovative coach in the United States swimming history. He is better known for his research and innovations in stroke mechanics and training techniques. He developed the science of swimming. His study of the mechanics of the sport led him to write The Science of Swimming, now considered the bible of swimming instruction.
  
  He invented several swimming apparatuses that are staples in the sport today. Counsilman’s anti-wave lane lines are large paddlewheel devices that divide lanes and significantly cut down on water turbulence, allowing for faster swimming. He also developed a pace clock that allowed swimmers to keep their own time during interval training, a training method popular in track and field that Counsilman discovered also worked well with swimmers. Counsilman was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1976.
  
  He was voted among the 25 most influential people in the history of USA Swimming, and his work was honored by the formation of the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming in Bloomington.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Science of Swimming

    (A comprehensive study of the theory and practice of compe...)

    1968
  • The New Science of Swimming

    (Basic book and reference on the science of swimming by th...)

    1994
  • Competitive Swimming Manual for Coaches and Swimmers 1977
  • The Complete Book of Swimming 1977

Views

James E. Counsilman's coaching philosophy was influenced in several ways by the late Ernst Vornbrock who aimed to help swimmers achieve their full academic, athletic, and social potential. "Maturity in coaching is important; not only should the coach be aware of one's own basic needs, but also of those of the team, and when the two coincide, the coach usually has a very sound philosophy."

He warned about getting caught in the trap of seeking to develop champions only. "You don't have to sacrifice the rest of the team to develop the exceptional few", he often said. "Develop a state of mind that concerns itself with everyone on the team. Then you will have more than your fair share of champions, and fewer champions will have a distorted idea of their own importance."

He readily admits that he learned a great deal from the talented swimmers he coached. "For example, Mark Spitz taught me a lot", he says. "Great swimmers usually have an innate sense of how they function. They seem to know instinctively how hard they need to work, and when they need to ease off. There's no need for the slave-driver approach to coaching. By respecting the swimmer's perceptions about his swimming, and by good communication, a coach can develop the sensitivity to understand the swimmer's basic needs."

For over 20 years, about 18,000 kids attended Counsilman's annual swim stroke clinics, where he taught his assistants the importance of a positive approach to stroke instruction, and how important it was not to jump in with criticisms of a young swimmer's stroke, but rather to praise the good points about it. The success of Indiana's swimming teams became a tradition in the Hoosier State, and twice the team was given a dinner by the governor of Indiana. And, if this were not enough, once a year Marge Counsilman invited the team home for lasagna.

His "Jelly Bean Day" was another traditional occasion. Once a season, every swimmer was timed for 800 meters, using his particular competitive stroke. A pound of jelly beans was awarded to every swimmer making standard times. This became such a tradition that the stands were half-filled with spectators, and the results were published in the local newspaper.

Quotations: "We know the principles of coaching. The art is knowing when to apply them."

"It only hurt once, from beginning to end."

Membership

James E. Counsilman was the College Swimming Coaches' Association, the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and the American Society of Sports Psychology. He was a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Connections

On June 15, 1943, James E. Counsilman married Marjorie Scrafford. They had four children: Cathy, James, Jill, Brian.

Father:

Joseph Walter Counsilman

Mother:

Ottilia Lena Counsilman

Spouse:

Marjorie S. Counsilman

Daughter:

Jill Morris

Son:

James M. Counsilman

Daughter:

Cathy Bonner

Son:

Brian E. Counsilman

Brother:

Joseph Counsilman

Friend:

Joe Hunsaker

References

• Contemporary Authors
  2004