Just in time for the start of the 2024 Olympics, we are pleased to say that processing of the papers of James E. Counsilman is nearly complete but we did not want to wait to share!
James E. Counsilman, or ‘Doc’, was a legend in the world of swimming as he was a swimmer, researcher, and coach. A pioneer in the field, Doc Counsilman had an impact on the sport and swimmers at Indiana University and across the globe.
Doc started his training with Ernie Vornbrock and competed in the national meet after his senior year of high school. During this meet, he was noticed by Ohio State Swim Coach Mike Peppe and thus started his swim career. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree in physical education, Doc went on to the University of Illinois to study under Thomas Kirk Cureton and pursue his Master’s in Physical Education. He then earned his PhD in physical education at the University of Iowa with his dissertation, “The Applications of Force in Two Types of Crawl Stroke.” As a doctoral student, Counsilman also served as assistant coach under David Armbruster, where he started filming and photographing his swimmers underwater to try to understand and improve their strokes, something that Counsilman was the first to do. In 1957, Counsilman came to Indiana University and began his 33 year career as a professor, mentor, and coach.
The collection of Doc’s papers held at the University Archives varies in content. It consists of newspaper clippings, audiovisual materials, and training files. The training logs are fascinating. From 1956 to 1990, these logs document workouts for Counsilman, the IU Men’s Swim Team, the IU Women’s Swim Team, and summer swim clubs. Not only do they record the day’s workouts, but they also have notes and drawings written by Counsilman, swimmers, and even some from his kids! In addition to logging their times, sometimes Doc added more colorful notes about the swimmers:
From a 1973-74 training log; someone drew pictures in the log.
One of my favorite log entries was for Jelly Bean Day. Throughout the training logs, Doc documented when he would give swimmers candies or treats for making their cut-off time. The explanation for Jelly Bean Day comes next to the December 6th entry in the 1970-1971 training day log. These treats and compliments show Doc’s care and love for his swimmers and the sport.
It is worth noting that one of Counsilman’s most important legacies was his close relationship with his swimmers. They formed a bond through their hard work, shared victories, and mutual respect that extended far beyond the pool and training sessions. This bond was exemplified by letters that swimmers wrote to Doc over the years, demonstrating that he cared deeply about his swimmers in and out of the pool. Counsilman was dedicated to helping his swimmers grow as athletes and individuals so that they could achieve their full potential. In the end, the accurate measure of a coach’s legacy is found in the hearts and minds of the athletes whose lives they have touched rather than in the number of trophies on a shelf.
Letters written to Doc and his wife Marge reflect how they were like a loving family to all swimmers. The Counsilmans would have swimmers over for dinner and ensure they had a home away from home. One such letter:
Dear Doc,
It was great to see you and Hobie yesterday. It was also fun to see the guys who came to the luncheon. After it was over, Bill Baird, Bobby and I spent the afternoon talking about old times. That’s what prompted me to write this letter. I know I will never say these things to you in person, although I’ve wanted to for years.
Whenever I get together to meet with IU swimmers, the one constant is the love everyone has for you and Marge. I believe that’s what binds us all together and has kept all the swummers so close over the years.
I believe, Doc, that you are the finest, wisest man I have ever met. I also thing you are the best coach I have ever observed, but I don’t believe that’s what made the strong impression on your swimmers.
I remember the day my father died and you put your arm around me and said you’d be a father to me. I’ll never forget how much I appreciated that, and I believe that symbolizes how you treated all of us and how we feel about you. You taught us about life and stressed the importance of things other than swimming. I had a wonderful time at Indiana and I think we all left well prepared for the future. I thank you and Marge for that.
Love, Larry
In addition to Counsilman’s master’s thesis, the Archives also has his dissertation. Counsilman was the first to take photos of swimmers underwater in order to capture their stroke mechanics, which could aid coaches in understanding force and technique better. In doing so, he helped create a whole new way of assisting swimmers to improve by viewing their strokes from all angles.
Swimmer Keith Cater:
Doc Counsilman was an innovator and pioneer who significantly contributed to swimming, athletics, and coaching. His collection of papers at the University Archives can help athletes, students, and scholars deepen their understanding of the sport, offer practical insights into coaching and training, and allow them to draw inspiration from one of swimming’s most influential figures.
You can view the full inventory of the Counsilman papers in Archives Online or contact the IU Archives to schedule an appointment to view the collection in person. Digitization of the tapes and films is still underway; the finding aid will be updated with links to the digitized media as soon as it is available!
