The University of Minnesota’s prior “Head Men’s Coach” Dennis Dale will no longer be with the program, the school told the team in a meeting on Tuesday.
Dale, who is the “Head Men’s Coach” under the umbrella of the program’s true head coach Kelly Kremer is a Minnesota alumni, having graduated in 1967, and has been the head of the men’s team since the 1985-1986 season. In his time, his men’s team has 7 Big Ten titles, including back-to-back wins in 2004 and 2005, and he has earned 6 Big Ten Coach of the Year awards.
Dale became the “Head Men’s Coach” after the men’s and women’s programs were combined at Minnesota following the 2010-2011 season under Kremer.
Though it’s not going to be a direct replacement, Minnesota plans to hand the reins to the men’s sprint group over to second-year assistant Steve Miller, who is a 2009 graduate of Minnesota. That’s a sprint group that Miller was once a part of while a four-time First Team All-American as an undergrad.
The sprint group is a hallmark of the Minnesota program, including Big Ten Champion Derek Toomey who was 4th at NCAA’s in the 50 free last weekend.
We were unable to confirm the exact nature of the separation between Dale and Minnesota (firing, retirement, resignation, etc.) and as of posting, Minnesota had not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Friends:
It’s been almost a year since the University of Minnesota decided not to renew Dennis Dale’s contract and Indiana University decided to hire Dennis to coach both men and women. With the 2015 Big Ten Swimming Championships in the rear-view mirror, some reflection about that decision is in order. We can now begin to assess, preliminarily at least, whether things improved at Minnesota as some commentators contended would happen, and whether Indiana’s sprint program (one of the areas that Dennis was asked to focus on) has improved as some of us suggested was likely. In other words, did Dennis’s removal have a positive impact on the Gopher men and did Dennis have a positive impact at IU?
For… Read more »
FYI. I am not a coach and there is no appeal except for you to move on.In no way was I involved in the decision that led to Dennis’s dismissal,
and I am not a part of Minnesota swimming in any way.
It does not appear that there is an overwhelming consensus for your position. I feel very sorry that you are harboring this deep resentment. If this is incoherent then please let me know how to be more clear.
In case you are unable to understand my position I will simplify it. Dwelling on what happened rather than supporting the Gopher swimmers is unproductive and negative.
Also, I did not suggest that you said I… Read more »
Swim Dude:
Your post is confusing and it is hard to know where to begin.
How can you say that you aren’t trying to appeal to anyone, if in the next sentence you suggest that you are trying to present a side of the situation that I and others may not have considered? In my estimation, that is an appeal.
More importantly, the critics who have posted here are quite aware that you and those responsible for the decision to eliminate Dennis would like others to stop talking about it. Most people who engage in conduct that is so troubling would prefer that others not dwell on that conduct. The critics aren’t moving on because a) some have… Read more »
Chris Dale,
My posts are not made to appeal to anyone. My hope is to present a side to this situation that you, and others, may not have considered. Unlike your posts that have a specific agenda. My wish is to move forward. Your wish is to reflect, cajole and whine. I dropped out of this a while ago but your continued rants must be good therapy because they certainly serve no purpose other than to vent. Just a reminder, I am still not Kelly.
SwimDude:
Your ability to blind yourself to the obvious import of Indiana’s hiring of Dennis probably makes your world a little easier to live in. Perhaps you are privately chucking to yourself “my goodness, Indiana has whipped Minnesota that last few years in the Big Ten meet. What could they be thinking?” Don’t think too hard about it or you just might ruin your private joke when it occurs to you that Indiana’s decision reflects what the swimming community at large is thinking – Minnesota’s decision to remove Dennis wasn’t just ill-advised, it created a wonderful opportunity for Minnesota’s direct competitors.
You see, Indiana’s decision just affirms a fact that most people already knew; it’s the remaining coaching staff… Read more »
If anyone thinks that Steve Miller did not have a hand in the recent success of the Gopher sprinters they are mistaken. The athletic director and staff made a well thought out decision which would not exemplify insanity. Dennis’ choice to sign on at Indiana was a good decision and now he can move forward with his coaching career. after all those years of claiming disdain for Looze he has put his distaste aside.
I am pretty sure Norwood will not be kissing anyone’s behind as he has made many difficult, and sometimes less than popular but necessary, decisions at Minnesota and elsewhere. Maturi’s tenure was not without difficulty which included the Tubby Smith era. My sources tell me… Read more »
Not renewing Dennis’ contract is atrocious. Dennis is one of those coaches who is simply not replaceable. His record did not justify this treatment. He had just coached Derek Toomey to go sub 19.00 at NCAA’s! The athletics director and staff are insane to let him retire…let alone not renew his contract. He built the program from the ground up and coached countless men to achieve incredible things. I want to see Norwood Teague literally kiss his ass and then reinstate him. I wonder where Marc Ryan was on this one. Joel Maturi would have never let this happen.
Dennis Dale is Minnesota Swimming. Not only has Dennis had an incredible impact on swimmers but he has helped create amazing coaches as well.
He has positively impacted my life before I met him and even before I started swimming.
I was coached by Dave Anderson, a former Minnesota assistant coach to Dennis Dale. Dave had similar structure and style to Dennis’. The type of structure and style that helped me become the swimmer and person I am today.
I also had the opportunity to train, compete with and be coached by Steve Miller. He is an incredible person, fantastic coach and great friend.
I am honored and privileged to have swam under the guidance of Dennis.… Read more »