The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that Donald L. Gambril (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), who coached numerous American swimmers to national championships and Olympic gold medals, has been elected to the USADA Board of Directors to serve in the newly-created coach board member position.
“We are extremely pleased and honored that Don Gambril has agreed to join our board,” said USADA Board of Directors Chair Dr. Ralph W. Hale, M.D. “His distinguished career as a coach, as well as his experience as a teacher and athletic director, will benefit USADA’s mission to preserve the well-being of Olympic sport and ensure the health of athletes.”
“I am very humbled to be selected to serve on the USADA Board. It is made up of a most impressive group of individuals. I hope I can add something valuable to their efforts,” said Gambril. “I am very much opposed to any type of drugs or supplements taken to enhance performance. Anything and everything should be done to strengthen all effort to block their use.”
A swimming coach for more than 30 years, Gambril served as the head coach for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team and was an assistant coach for the sport’s 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980 U.S. Olympians. He started his coaching career at the high school level and as a collegiate coach compiled a 350-60 record during stints at Pasadena City College, Long Beach State, Harvard and Alabama (270-49). In 1990, after serving as head coach of the University of Alabama’s men’s swimming program for 17 years and the women’s swimming program for 10 years, Gambril retired from collegiate coaching and became an assistant athletic director at the school. He retired from that position in 1996, but has continued to teach at the university.
Gambril, a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, where he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in physical education, is the author of numerous books on swimming techniques, motivation and team building. He is an 11-time Hall of Fame inductee who has been honored by International Swimming, Alabama Sports, College Swimming Coaches, American Swimming Coaches, the University of Alabama and five other collegiate Halls of Fame.
For more information or media inquiries, click here.