CLEVELAND, Ohio – Former Cleveland State University swimming and diving coach Wally Morton was named one of three finalists for the National Collegiate and Scholastic Trophy by the CSCAA. It is the highest honor in intercollegiate and interscholastic swimming & diving and is awarded to the individual who has made "the greatest contribution to swimming and diving as a competitive sport, and as a healthful, recreational activity in the province of undergraduate and scholastic education."
Dave Parrington, Mark Bernardino, and Wally Morton have been selected as the three finalists. Each has demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing excellence both in and out of the pool, and their impact on student-athletes and their respective programs is truly remarkable. The winner will be chosen by CSCAA member coaches and honored at the 65th Annual CSCAA College Swimming & Diving Awards on May 3rd during the Annual Meetings in Chicago, Illinois.
Wally Morton's 39-year tenure at Cleveland State University stands as one of the most accomplished coaching careers in collegiate swimming and diving. Leading the Vikings from 1981 to 2014, Morton built
CSU into a regional and national presence, guiding his teams to 20 conference championships and an extraordinary 44 winning seasons. The winningest coach in university history with 377 career victories, he collected nine Coach of the Year honors and oversaw athletes who set hundreds of pool, school, and league records. Under his leadership, CSU swimmers and divers earned 14 Penn-Ohio Championships, multiple conference titles in both the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and Horizon League, and sustained success that included 11 men's and six women's league records.
Morton's impact extended beyond team success to individual excellence and academic achievement. He coached five swimmers and one diver to the NCAA Championships, highlighted by Jakub Dobies becoming CSU and Horizon League's first-ever All-American in 2009. His programs accumulated 64 Mid-Major All-America awards, while the women's team experienced a dramatic revival under his leadership, posting 70 wins over his final seven seasons. Equally committed to academic integrity, Morton's teams earned a combined 57 CSCAA Scholar All-America honors, with 27 Academic All-Americans and multiple university and conference community outreach awards. His legacy at Cleveland State is defined by sustained competitive excellence, holistic student-athlete development, and an unwavering commitment to elevating every facet of the program.
