Head Coach Casey Converse
The Converse File
Casey Converse with daughters Rosie and Maggie Converse netted a dual meet record of 12-35 while in Las Cruces. Before his college coaching career began, Converse was the assistant coach of the Cincinnati Pepsi Marlin Swim Team. In 1984, he guided the Mid-American swim team in Topeka, Kan., and from 1981-84, he served as Mid-America’s head age group coach. His coaching career began in 1980 in San Antonio, Texas, as he was the Metropolitan YMCA’s head master’s coach. Converse was a member of the coaching staff for the U.S. Long Distance swimming team at the Pan Pacific Championships.
Few college coaches, in any sport, can match Converse’s own athletic career accomplishments. A distance freestyle specialist, Converse swam on the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team as an 18-year old, placing ninth in the 400 freestyle. At Alabama, Converse burst onto the national scene as he not only won the national title in the 1,650 free his freshman year, but also set an American record and became the first man to break the 15-minute mark in the event (14:57.39). He also broke the NCAA record in the 1,000 free that same year. Converse lives in Colorado Springs. He has two daughters, Rosie and Maggie.
The following year, he was the head coach for the Athletes in Action summer project which produced five finalists at the U.S. Nationals in Mission Viejo, Calif. His service to the sport includes NCAA Y.E.S. (Youth Education through Sports) guest clinician in 1993 and 1999. A native of Topeka, Kan., Converse graduated from Mission Viejo High School (Calif.) in 1976 and went on to attend the University of Alabama. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Washburn University (Kan.) in 1984. He also received his master’s degree in science from the University of Northern Colorado in 2006.
2012-13 Air Force
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Full Name: Keith Converse Hometown: Topeka, Kan. College Education: Washburn University (Kan.), B.A. in Education, 1984; University of Northern Colorado, M.S. in Sport Administration, 2006 College Career: University of Alabama--1976 Olympic Team member (400 freestyle, ninth); NCAA Champion and All-American; Set NCAA (1000 freestyle) and American (1650 freestyle) records Coaching Accomplishments: 1994, 1995 NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year; 1993, 1995 PCSC Women’s Coach of the Year; 1991 WAC Coach of the Year; 1992 Division II National Champions (Women); Nine Division II National Champions; Seven Western Athletic Conference Champions; 60 All-Americans; Two Mountain West Conference Champions Coaching Experience: Metropolitan YMCA, 1980; Mid-American Swim Team, (Head Age Group Coach) 1981-1984; Mid-American Swim Team, (Head Coach) 1984; Cincinnati Pepsi Marlins (Asst. Coach), 1985; New Mexico State University (Head Coach), 1985-1988; U.S. Air Force Academy --(Head Coach women’s swimming), 1988-present. Inside the Numbers with Converse Year W L T 1989 15 5 0 1990 16 5 0 1991 19 7 0 1992 18 3 0 1993 15 6 0 1994 13 9 0 1995 18 8 0 1996 15 7 0 1997 13 7 0 1998 22 2 2 1999 6 9 0 2000 9 7 0 2001 11 8 0 2002 6 7 0 2003 13 6 0 2004 8 6 0 2005 18 15 0 2006 7 10 0 2007 4 10 0 2008 2 11 0 2009 6 14 0 2010 2 9 0 2011 2 10 0 2012 13 3 0 Total 271 184 2
Pct. .750 .762 .731 .857 .714 .591 .692 .682 .650 .865 .400 .563 .579 .461 .684 .571 .545 .412 .286 .154 .300 .182 .167 .813 .600
Women’s Swimming & Diving