Dick Michaels

Head Coach: 31st year

Coach Michaels begins his 31st season at Oberlin as men's swimming coach, and his 6th year as women's coach. He holds the academic rank of full professor on the Oberlin faculty. He has published 20 articles on swimming and coaching, hosted two NCAA Division III national championships and 26 conference championship meets. Michaels' swimmers and divers have won 40 individual conference titles, have been named to the All-America squad 71 times, including five national championship titles, and 12 swimmers who placed 3rd or better at the NCAA Meet.

As an undergraduate at The Ohio State University, Michaels was a three-time All-American in the backstroke. In 1964, he placed third at the Big Ten Championships in the 200 yard backstroke, defeating two world record-holders in the event. He was also a finalist in the 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100m backstroke.

After graduating from OSU in 1966 with a B.S. degree in physical education, Michaels went on to earn an M.A. from Western Michigan University while serving as assistant swimming coach.

Upon entering the U.S. Army in 1968, Michaels was named a member of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Team. He competed in a number of national and international competitions and finished 8th in the 1969 U.S. national championships.

Michaels has been married to his wife Janet since 1969.  Jan is an adapted Physical Education Teacher for Elyria, Ohio. They have three grown sons, Matt, Tony and Joe.

You can e-mail Coach Michaels at fmichaels@oberlin.edu.