Michael Rawleigh, who led the Gettysburg College men’s and women’s swimming teams for thirty-four years, was selected as the 2020 Richard E. Steadman Award.  The selection was made by the Executive Board of the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) in recognition of the coach who, in the opinion of the CSCAA and International Swimming Hall of Fame, has done the most to spread happiness in the sport of swimming and diving.

Rawleigh retired from Gettysburg following thirty-four years on the pool deck.  It was a career highlighted by 42 conference titles, 118 CSCAA All-America honors and hundreds of lives influenced by his wisdom.  That influence was reflected as Rawleigh was nominated by three separate head coaches - George Kennedy of Johns Hopkins, Alan Boelk of UW Stevens Point and Peter Casares of Bates College.

According to Kennedy, himself a Steadman Award Winner, Rawleigh stands as a model of integrity.  “He understands fully that our athletes are the true champions. His honest approach to the sport, and sometimes brutal truth-telling to his athletes, led to a mutual respect I have yet to see duplicated.”

Kennedy added that Rawleigh’s priorities always centered around family - “his and yours” - and that his peers and teams knew he “cares about you more than your swimming.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Boelk.  “His perspective on the sport and on life not only benefited his swimmers but the other coaches around him. He's helped me through all sorts of things and talked sense into me whether it was about swimming, relationships or life.  He offered all of this even though I would only see him on the pool deck once a year.”

Rawleigh was selected for the award over an exceptionally deep pool of nominees.  These included Dan Ross (Purdue University), Sean Peters (Wayne State University), Joe Lucia (Cornell), Jack Roach (Tide Swimming), Dale Rothenberger (Hartwick College), Al Switzer (Plymouth State), Pat Snively (Fairmont State) and Michael Westkott (University of Rhode Island).

About the CSCAA

Founded in 1922, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) is the first professional association of college coaches in the United States.  The CSCAA is dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming and diving at the collegiate level. The CSCAA works to

• protect, promote and expand competitive intercollegiate swimming and diving programs; 

• recognize outstanding achievements by coaches, swimmers and divers;

• promote communication and cooperation within swimming and diving and with our partner National Governing Bodies, the NCAA, NAIA and Junior College Associations;

• provide ongoing educational and leadership training for coaches and athletes; and

• serve as a resource to its membership and for the general public.