Photo courtesy of IU Archives At 58, Doc jumped back in the water and swam the English Channel, becoming the oldest person to do so at the time. Counsilman said he did it to teach people a lesson.

Who was the Indiana University head coach of the most successful Olympic U.S. swimming team in history, with 12 golds and 10 silvers in 13 events?

Answer: James "Doc" Counsilman

Remembering Doc
If the Olympic swimmers have caught your eye, view a multimedia biography of the late great James “Doc” Councilman, the man who transformed the art of swimming into a science and coached 38 Olympians along the way.

Related stories from the IU Home Pages archive:

Doc—IU’s legendary swim coach featured in WTIU special

Counsilman Center at IUB to study science of swimming