Head coach Gary Kempf was inducted into the Hall of Fame on October 3, 1998. His achievements with the Kansas swimming program are undeniably some of the most succesful and well-respected in the nation. Kempf has coached the women's program for 23 seasons and the men's program for 17 seasons. Under his direction, the women have won a total of 13 league titles, nine of those in consecutive years. After placing seventh at the 1983 Women's NCAA Championships, Kempf was awarded NCAA Coach of the Year. He has also been honored with conference coach of the year nine times. On the men's side, Kempf has led the team to top two fnishes in the Big Eight conference from 1987 to 1996. The men also finished in 13th place at the 1989 NCAA Championships. Additionally, Kempf has coached 59 individual All-Americans. Coach Kempf swam for Kansas in 1973-76, winning eight individual Big Eight titles and leading the way to four team championships. He then took over the reigns of the women's team in the fall of 1976 and took the men's team helm in 1983. Kempf has also coached on the national level, heading up the 1989 West squad at the U.S. Olympic Festival in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was also the assistant Coach for the U.S. team at the 1987 World University games in Yugoslavia. Besides his own athletic accomplishments, as well as his team's accomplishments, Kempf has always stressed the importance of academics on the collegiate level. He has coached seven Academic All-American first-teamers and last year, he had 22 students earn Academic All-Big 12 honors. Kempf and his exceptional coaching career will be remembered by all with this special honor of induction into the Kansas Athletic Hall of Fame. |
