Dick Shoulberg Honored with ISHOF Lifetime Achievement Award
A multi-time Olympic coach and the man behind the powerhouse Foxcatcher/Germantown Academy program, Richard “Dick” Shoulberg was honored on Saturday night by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. At ISHOF’s annual awards ceremony, Shoulberg was recognized with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Shoulberg is recognized globally as one of the sport’s greatest coachs, having sent his athletes to the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships and other international competitions. Additionally, he has been a longtime promoter of water safety, as he ensured thousands of students at Germantown Academy developed sound aquatic skills and would be comfortable and safe in the water during their lives.
Known for designing grinding workouts, which prepared his athletes both physically and mentally, Shoulberg has twice been named coach of the Year by the American Swimming Coaches Association and served as an Olympic coach for Team USA at the Olympic Games. During his career, Shoulberg mentored the likes of Dave Wharton, David Berkoff, Trina Radke, Erika Hansen, Dan Jorgenson and Sean Killion. He also mentored the Crippen family – Maddy, Fran, Claire and Teresa.
His athletes routinely speak about Shoulberg’s impact, many calling him a father figure. The veteran coach also sent many of his swimmers into the coaching profession. Under Shoulberg, these coaches not only recognized the ability to correct technique and push their swimmers, but become a key figure in their lives and growth as a person. Among those benefiting from Shoulberg in this area are Jack Bauerle, the legendary coach at the University of Georgia who was a multi-time Olympic coach, and Tyler Fenwick, the Senior Associate Head Coach at the University of Virginia who has helped the Cavaliers to five straight NCAA titles.
As the head coach at Germantown Academy, Shoulberg built the program into a national power that won several Swimming World national championships and was the standard in the scholastic ranks.
