Former Alabama NCAA Champion and current Air Force head coach Casey Converse, who represented the U.S. in the 1976 Olympics, has become the first swimmer inducted into the prestigious Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.
The Mobile Sports Hall of Fame honors sports figures who have made a significant impact on the Mobile, Alabama area. Converse joins such area sports legends as Hank Aaron and Satchel Paige.
Converse grew up in Mobile, first beginning his competitive swimming career with the Country Club of Mobile. He moved to California during his junior year of high school to train with Mission Viejo, and landed on the Olympic team in the 400 free for the Montreal Games of 1976.
But Converse returned home after his Olympic foray, attending college at the University of Alabama and winning an NCAA Championship for the Crimson Tide as a freshman. In that race, he broke the American record and became the first man under 15 minutes in the 1650, going 14:57.39.
He’s remained a mainstay of the swimming world, serving as the head women’s swimming and diving coach at the Air Force Academy for the past 26 seasons. Converse also coached the Air Force men for 10 years.
Converse will be officially enshrined tonight at the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet at the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel.
AL.com further profiled Converse earlier this week, and you can find their story here. In addition, the Air Force Academy’s press release on his enshrinement can be found here.
Congratulations
Roll Tide, KC and congratulations, to a great athlete and tremendous person.