2016 NC State Athletic Hall of Fame: Don Easterling
8/23/2016 7:57:00 AM | Pack Athletics, Swimming
Hall of Fame ceremony takes place Sept. 16 in the newly renovated Reynolds Coliseum
NC State Athletic Hall of Fame | 2016 Induction Ceremony | Purchase Tickets
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State's men's swimming and diving team has achieved a vast amount of success on the conference and national level since its introduction to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1954. In it's first year in the ACC, the Wolfpack clinched a conference title under former coach and athletic director Willis Casey.
The talent continued to pour into the program over the next 16 years under Casey, as the Wolfpack men earned seven more conference titles and three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championship under Casey.
In 1970, Texas native Don Easterling took over the Pack's swimming and diving program. He came to Raleigh from the University of Texas at Arlington, coming off of a hot streak with its men's team, as the Mavericks earned a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship in 1969.
Easterling inherited a solid foundation, and in his 27 years at the helm of the Pack he created a dynasty in the pool and a strong reputation among the university and swimming community. Under his tutelage he led the men's team to 15 ACC Championship titles, as the Pack won 12 of those titles consecutively from his start in 1971 to '82.
He also started the women's program from the ground up in 1976, leading the team to back-to-back ACC titles in 1979 and '80, and collectively coached 40 athletes to earning All-America honors.
In addition to his success among the NCAA realm he coached seven future Olympians, including five medalists, as well as four Pan Am game medalists.
His induction to NC State's Athletics Hall of Fame adds to a long list of awards he's already received for his noteworthy accomplishments. He was named ACC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year in 1984 and '92, and also earned the award for the women's program in 1991. In 1993 he was named National Collegiate Scholastic Swimming Coach of the Year and since his retirement has been inducted into the Texas Legends of Swimming (1996) and the Association of Swimming Coaches of American Hall of Fame (2004).
Since he stepped down as head coach, Easterling has remained heavily involved and invested in the program. For current head coach Braden Holloway, he's had a positive relationship with the legendary coaching figure, especially since Holloway's return to his alma mater.
"I first met Don Easterling my freshman year here in 1997. My first impression of him was, 'this guy is full-tilt intense.' He's intense about the sport and NC State, but you can see the passion he has for swimming and the university," Holloway recalled.
Since Holloway's return in 2011, the relationship between him and Easterling is stronger than ever.
"We didn't keep in touch too much while I was away, but when I came back to coach that's when he reached out and we started to get together a lot. He's been a great friend, mentor and supporter ever since I came back. He's a very motivational figure for not only our staff but our athletes as well.
"He sends letters from time to time that are always uplifting, and reaches out and helps with whatever I need during the good times and tough ones, but he also challenges us as to what we can do as a program to make sure that we're always looking forward."
Easterling can still be found every now and then around Casey Aquatic Center, as he enjoys interacting with the current members of the team and recalling the memories he has created with the Pack.
"He comes back to Raleigh frequently and when he does he always brings something to show the team and tells a story. It's great for the kids because they get to hear stories from the times that he was here that no one's ever really heard of before. It's neat to hear about the history he was a part of whenever he comes back."
Since Holloway and his staff took over, the program has skyrocketed back into a national spotlight. In just five years the men's team has clinched back-to-back ACC Championship titles and it's men's and women's programs have earned top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships the past three seasons.
"I think the big thing that we've done since we've been back is getting people that were familiar with him and what he did here to just believe again. We have so long until we even come close to creating what he had here as far as a dynasty," Holloway said in regard to the reconstruction of the program. "For us I think it's more so that we're helping the Wolfpack nation and swimming community to believe in NC State again on a higher level of excellence."
Created in 2012 and now boasting 36 total members, the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame will honor its 2016 class in a grand reopening gala on Friday, September 16 at the newly-renovated Reynolds Coliseum. To purchase tickets to the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Induction Ceremony, click HERE.
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RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State's men's swimming and diving team has achieved a vast amount of success on the conference and national level since its introduction to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1954. In it's first year in the ACC, the Wolfpack clinched a conference title under former coach and athletic director Willis Casey.
The talent continued to pour into the program over the next 16 years under Casey, as the Wolfpack men earned seven more conference titles and three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championship under Casey.
In 1970, Texas native Don Easterling took over the Pack's swimming and diving program. He came to Raleigh from the University of Texas at Arlington, coming off of a hot streak with its men's team, as the Mavericks earned a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship in 1969.
Easterling inherited a solid foundation, and in his 27 years at the helm of the Pack he created a dynasty in the pool and a strong reputation among the university and swimming community. Under his tutelage he led the men's team to 15 ACC Championship titles, as the Pack won 12 of those titles consecutively from his start in 1971 to '82.
He also started the women's program from the ground up in 1976, leading the team to back-to-back ACC titles in 1979 and '80, and collectively coached 40 athletes to earning All-America honors.
In addition to his success among the NCAA realm he coached seven future Olympians, including five medalists, as well as four Pan Am game medalists.
His induction to NC State's Athletics Hall of Fame adds to a long list of awards he's already received for his noteworthy accomplishments. He was named ACC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year in 1984 and '92, and also earned the award for the women's program in 1991. In 1993 he was named National Collegiate Scholastic Swimming Coach of the Year and since his retirement has been inducted into the Texas Legends of Swimming (1996) and the Association of Swimming Coaches of American Hall of Fame (2004).
Since he stepped down as head coach, Easterling has remained heavily involved and invested in the program. For current head coach Braden Holloway, he's had a positive relationship with the legendary coaching figure, especially since Holloway's return to his alma mater.
"I first met Don Easterling my freshman year here in 1997. My first impression of him was, 'this guy is full-tilt intense.' He's intense about the sport and NC State, but you can see the passion he has for swimming and the university," Holloway recalled.
Since Holloway's return in 2011, the relationship between him and Easterling is stronger than ever.
"We didn't keep in touch too much while I was away, but when I came back to coach that's when he reached out and we started to get together a lot. He's been a great friend, mentor and supporter ever since I came back. He's a very motivational figure for not only our staff but our athletes as well.
"He sends letters from time to time that are always uplifting, and reaches out and helps with whatever I need during the good times and tough ones, but he also challenges us as to what we can do as a program to make sure that we're always looking forward."
Easterling can still be found every now and then around Casey Aquatic Center, as he enjoys interacting with the current members of the team and recalling the memories he has created with the Pack.
"He comes back to Raleigh frequently and when he does he always brings something to show the team and tells a story. It's great for the kids because they get to hear stories from the times that he was here that no one's ever really heard of before. It's neat to hear about the history he was a part of whenever he comes back."
Since Holloway and his staff took over, the program has skyrocketed back into a national spotlight. In just five years the men's team has clinched back-to-back ACC Championship titles and it's men's and women's programs have earned top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships the past three seasons.
"I think the big thing that we've done since we've been back is getting people that were familiar with him and what he did here to just believe again. We have so long until we even come close to creating what he had here as far as a dynasty," Holloway said in regard to the reconstruction of the program. "For us I think it's more so that we're helping the Wolfpack nation and swimming community to believe in NC State again on a higher level of excellence."
Created in 2012 and now boasting 36 total members, the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame will honor its 2016 class in a grand reopening gala on Friday, September 16 at the newly-renovated Reynolds Coliseum. To purchase tickets to the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Induction Ceremony, click HERE.
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