LAUSANNE – FISU mourns the passing of Peter Daland (USA) at the age of 93. Peter Daland was a former Technical Delegate for Swimming. The University of Southern California legend and co-founder of ‘Swimming World Magazine’ graduated from Swarthmore College in 1948 and began coaching in Rose Valley, Pa., where he captured eight straight Suburban League titles from 1947-55. During that time period, he founded the Suburban Swim Club (now called the Suburban Seahawks Club) in Newtown Square, Pa., before serving as an assistant to legendary Yale coach Bob Kiphuth at Yale. In 1956, he took the position as head coach at the University of Southern California and also coached at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Daland never left USC as a coach. He spent 35 years with the Trojans until retiring in 1992. During his time at USC, he led the Trojans to nine NCAA Championships, as well as coached the club to 14 AAU Men’s National titles and 2 AAU Women’s National titles.
Daland also earned spots on multiple national team coaching staffs. He was the coach of the 1964 U.S. Women’s Swim Team, where his team won 15 of the 25 medals available. In 1972, he coached the U.S. men’s team that won 26 out of 45 medals awards, including Mark Spitz’s then-record seven Olympic titles and seven world records.
Daland remained active in the swimming community following his retirement from coaching. He had various roles with FISU and the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA). He was one of the founders of ASCA, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1977.
Daland is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Ingrid, five children and eight grandchildren.
(Source: Swimming World Magazine)
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