Stefan Gherghel
1/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Stefan Gherghel
Assistant Coach
Stefan Gherghel brings his experience as one of the fastest athletes in the history of collegiate swimming to the deck in his second year as an assistant coach.
“Stefan knows what it takes to compete at the high level and that is an invaluable resource to our young team,” head coach Eric McIlquham said.
Gherghel was the first two-time NCAA Champion in Alabama’s storied history, winning back-to-back NCAA 200 butterfly crowns in 2002 and 2003. His winning time at the 2003 championship ranks third all-time in the 200 butterfly behind Olympic champions Pablo Morales and Melvin Stewart. And in another tie to Olympic champions, on his way to his first NCAA title, Gherghel smashed the long standing school record then held by 1984 Olympic Gold medalist Jon Sieben.
Internationally, Gherghel has been a force. He earned a silver medal in the 200m butterfly at the 2004 FINA World Championships and was fifth in the 200 at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He also competed for his native Rumania at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
In addition to his two NCAA titles, Gherghel won a pair of SEC 200 butterfly titles, earned seven All-American honors during his two-year Tide career, holds the Alabama 100 and 200 butterfly records and ranks third all-time for the Tide in the 100 backstroke.
