Grinnell College Athletics Hall of Fame
Michael Daley ’72 has the rare distinction of being a standout student-athlete and a coach at Grinnell College. As a swimmer, he was among Hall of Fame coach Ray Obermiller’s first All-Americans.
Daley earned All-America honors in 1970 as part of the 400-yard freestyle relay that placed ninth at nationals in a then–school and conference record time of 3:19.27. That same year, Grinnell captured the Midwest Conference team title—powered by a win in the record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay featuring Daley, along with his individual conference championship in the 200-yard freestyle.
Daley built on that momentum. He returned to the 400-yard freestyle relay in 1971 and again won the 200-yard freestyle in 1972. He earned All-Conference recognition in all four seasons—making the Freshman Team in his first year and the traditional All-Conference squad thereafter. Mike captained the freshman swim team, and then led the varsity swim team as captain in his junior and senior years. He capped his collegiate career by receiving the Robert Ross Swimming Trophy in 1972 and graduated with a degree in economics.
Daley returned to Grinnell as a Resident Advisor, and brought that same passion to coaching, when he took the helm of the Grinnell College women’s swimming and diving team in just its second season in 1973. Although the Midwest Athletic Conference for Women did not hold a league meet during his three-year tenure, Daley helped set the stage for the five straight conference titles that won by a talented women’s team. Subsequently, he earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University and went on to work in Student Affairs at Coker College, Cornell University, and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Coincidentally, Mike was also coaching age group swimmers and masters swimmers at the Schroeder YMCA in Milwaukee.
Daley still loves being on deck, having coached and taught swimmers—from infants to 96-year-olds—for the past 28 years. In 2013, he founded the Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics Masters team in Holland, Michigan. What began with two athletes at the first practice has grown to more than 100. The team has won the Michigan Masters State Championships in two of the last four years, and Daley was named Master’s Coach of the Year for 2025. Mike continues to compete in U.S. Masters regional, state, and national championship meets, and he has completed three full Ironman triathlons, beginning at age 59.
A longtime supporter of Pioneer the swimming and diving program, Mike established the Daley Swim and Dive Diversity & Inclusion Fund with a $500,000 gift in 2020. The proceeds from this gift help build and sustain a team culture where diverse perspectives are welcomed, supported, and valued.
