Alabama Swimming and Diving Legends Don Gambril and Christine Jarvis Earn CSCAA Centennial Honors
12/8/2021 6:53:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Tide’s legendary coach and its first individual women’s national champion were named to the coaches’ association Top-100 coaches and student-athletes, respectively
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama coaching legend Don Gambril and the first member of the women's program to win national titles, Christine Jarvis, have been honored as part of College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America's (CSCAA) Centennial Celebration.
The CSCAA named the 100 Greatest College Swimming & Diving Coaches and Swimmers & Divers of the past 100 years, with Gambril earning a spot on the coaches list and Jarvis garnering a place among the top 100 women's swimmers & divers. A blue ribbon of more than fifty voters made the selections.
Alabama Head Coach Margo Geer
"We're thrilled that Coach Gambril and Christine were honored among the very best in the history of collegiate swimming and diving. It would be nearly impossible to list everything that Coach Gambril has meant to Crimson Tide swimming and diving, leading Alabama and Team USA to greatness on the national and international stage. Christine was the original legend for our women's program as the first national champion in the history of women's athletics at Alabama, totaling five breaststroke titles over a two-year span."
Don Gambril
- Don Gambril led Alabama's men from 1974-90 and the combined men's and women's program from 1980-90, tallying 350 total wins over the course of his collegiate head coaching career
- He became one of the first NCAA Division I head coaches to lead both a men's and women's team to 100-or-more dual meet wins
- Led Alabama to Southeastern Conference team titles, men - 1982 and 1987; women - 1985
- His Crimson Tide teams earned 16 top-10 NCAA finishes
- Gambril student-athletes won seven individual NCAA titles
- Coached Alabama student-athletes to world, national and conference records and championships as well as countless All-American and All-SEC honors
- A regular on Team USA's coaching staff, Gambril served as head coach of the ultra-successful 1984 U.S. Olympic squad as well as the 1991 World Championship squad
Christine Jarvis
- The first individual national champion in any sport in the history of women's athletics at The University of Alabama, Christine Jarvis still accounts for the most individual national titles in Crimson Tide history, men or women, with five
- Jarvis won the AIAW 100 and 200 breaststroke championships in 1976 and 1977 and the 50 breaststroke title in 1977
- Set the U.S. Open record in 1976 in the 100 meter breaststroke
- AIAW record holder in the 200 breaststroke (2:18.79)
- U.S. Open and AIAW record holder in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.56)
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), is the nation's first organization of college coaches. The mission of the CSCAA is to advance the sport of swimming and diving with coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy, and professional development.
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