North Carolina State University Athletics
Teal Set for JMU Athletics Hall of Fame Induction
10/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
Oct. 14, 2010
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State head swimming and diving coach Brooks Teal will be inducted into the James Madison University Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, Oct. 14. The ceremony will take place at the JMU Festival Conference & Student Center Grand Ballroom.
Teal served as the head coach of the men's swimming and diving program at JMU from 1993-99, leading the Dukes to six Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) titles in seven years and three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) crowns. Two of Teal's JMU swimmers qualified for and competed in the NCAA championships, and he was named CAA Coach of the Year in both 1997 and 1999.
"What we accomplished at JMU was very special," said Teal. "I'm honored and humbled by this recognition.
"The James Madison men didn't dominate with first-place finishes, but we had quality depth that no other teams could match. Our championships were a total team accomplishment and a huge source of pride for everyone in the program. This honor means so much to me because I am accepting this on behalf of all of the guys that swam for me. They're the ones who earned it and swam their hearts out."
Aside from the professional recognition, the honor also is also an emotional one for Teal.
"Since I found out about this, I've been re-living the fun moments," said Teal. "This is where my son was born and my daughter grew from age two to age 10. There are a lot of good, special people there, very similar to how I feel about NC State."
Since leaving JMU and coming home to his alma mater at NC State, Teal has continued to achieve. He was one of six national finalists for ASCA Coach of the Year in 2006 and he was a member of the USA national team coaching staff at the World Championships in Australia in 2007.
At NC State, Teal has coached two Olympians, two NCAA national champions, one ACC meet MVP, one ACC Diver of the Year, six All-Americans, 13 ACC individual and relay champions and 20 All-ACC selections. Fifty-one school records have been set in the pool under his leadership.
