North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame Announces 2026

Former University of North Carolina head coach Rich DeSelm is one of five individuals selected for the North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame's Class of 2026. The hall announced the class on Tuesday, with an induction ceremony scheduled for October 2 in Greensboro featuring Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones as a speaker.

Jonathan Watson, Co-Chair of the North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame Committee, called the class "very impressive." He stated the inductees represent a wide range of aquatics achievements in swimming, coaching, officiating, and administration. Fellow Co-Chair Erika Braun highlighted their lifetime contributions to the sport within the state.

The 2026 Honorees

The five inductees are former UNC coach Rich DeSelm, official Joel Black, swimmer Stephanie Peacock, coach Brooks Teal, and coach Patty Huey Waldron.

Rich DeSelm's Coaching Legacy

Rich DeSelm's career in North Carolina swimming spans decades. He first swam for UNC from 1974 to 1978, serving as a team captain and leaving with five team records. After a 15-year stint as an assistant coach at UNC, he became head coach at Davidson College. There, he won seven Southern Conference Championships across men's and women's teams.

DeSelm later returned to UNC as head coach for 12 years starting in 2007. During that tenure, he mentored 58 All-Americans and 26 ACC champions. His international roles included serving as assistant manager for the U.S. Olympic team at the 2000 Games and head coach for the U.S. At the 2011 World University Games.

Accomplishments of the Class

Joel Black is recognized for a long officiating career that began in 1981. He became a certified official for NCAA, USA Swimming, and North Carolina High School Swimming in 1989. His resume includes working 22 YMCA National Championships, seven USA Swimming national championships, three Pan Pacific Championships, and five U.S. Olympic Trials. He received USA Swimming's Ken Pettigrew Award for Outstanding Official in 2005.

Stephanie Peacock, who swam for DeSelm at UNC, won an NCAA title in the 1,650-yard freestyle, breaking a 22-year-old record held by Janet Evans. Internationally, she earned relay gold at the 2011 World University Games and set a meet record winning the 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2013 edition. She also won a bronze medal in the 10-kilometer open water event in 2015.

Brooks Teal coached club swimmers before a nine-year run as head coach of the YMCA of Raleigh, where he coached Hall of Famer David Fox and won a YMCA national men's team title. He later served as head coach at James Madison University and NC State, coaching national champions Cullen Jones and Kristen Davies at the latter.

Patty Huey Waldron swam at UNC from 1981 to 1984. She built a coaching career at Mecklenburg Aquatic Club (SwimMAC) and Charlotte Latin School, winning 22 conference and nine state high school championships. She was recognized with North Carolina Swimming's Volunteer of the Year Award in 1998 and U.S. Masters Swimming's Kerry O'Brien Coaching Award in 2014.

The induction ceremony will be held at the Terrace at the Greensboro Coliseum. It is presented by the organizing committee for the 2029 World University Games, which are scheduled to be held in North Carolina.