Mike Sutton Named to Inaugural Class of CSCAA Division III Hall of Fame

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Mike Sutton, who coached the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's swimming and diving program for 22 years from 1979-2000, is one of 38 coaches and athletes who were selected for the inaugural class of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Division III Hall of Fame, the organization announced today.

The inaugural induction ceremony is set to take place at the CSCAA Annual Awards Celebration on May 6, 2024, hosted at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis.

Sutton led the CMS men's swimming and diving team through a dominant run in the 1980s and 1990s, which saw the Stags win 18 SCIAC titles in a 19-year span. CMS won 12 in a row from 1982-1993, and after finishing second in 1994, the Stags won the last six in Sutton's tenure from 1995-2000. 

In addition, CMS finished as the runner-up in the NCAA Division III Championship six times in a span of nine years, coming in second place in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1991. The Stags were topped in those years only by Kenyon, which was in the middle of a run of 31 straight NCAA titles. The 1983 team won seven Championships in NCAA record time, with Doug Jones and Tom Harrison each winning three individually, and combining for a 400-yard freestyle relay win with Bill Johnson and Nick Bagatelos (who went on to win an individual title in the 200-yard breaststroke in 1985).

A total of 22 swimmers won national titles under Sutton, including Gary Simon, who was the NCAA Division III Swimmer of the Year twice in a row in 1997 and 1998. Simon helped the Stags finish fourth at nationals in 1998, when he won two national titles in the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard breaststroke, setting a national record in the 200 IM. 

In 1983, Sutton was chosen as the NCAA Division III Men's Swimming Coach of the Year. As head swimming coach, Sutton coached the Stags to a 143-52 overall record, including 101-4 in SCIAC meets. 

Samantha Barany, CSCAA Executive Director, emphasized the significance of the Hall of Fame, stating, "This Hall of Fame stands as a tribute to the remarkable careers and accomplishments of swimmers, divers, and coaches who have played pivotal roles in shaping the landscape of collegiate swimming and diving at the Division III level. The inductees will be celebrated not only for their exceptional athletic careers but also for their enduring impact on our sport, their teams, and their institutions."

To view the complete release from the CSCAA, go to the following link:

Inaugural CSCAA Division III Hall of Fame Announced