Upon walking into the UNCW Seahawk Natatorium one cannot help but stare at the many championship banners that hang from the enormous wall alongside the pool. The banners show nine CAA titles and two Eastern titles, but nowhere on the wall will you find the name Dave Allen.

Coach Allen prefers that though. With nine conference championships and equally as many CAA Coach of the Year awards, Allen remains extremely humble.

“It’s a total credit to all the athletes that I’ve had over the years,” Allen said. “I’ve never won any meets. I was just the one to be there each year.”

Allen is going into his 30th season as the head coach of the UNCW men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. He was hired as UNCW’s first ever swim coach in 1977 and has created a legacy of excellence in the waters.

His men’s team capped off their sixth straight CAA championship with a first place finish in the 2006-2007 season. Last year’s women’s team had a dominant year as well, coming in second in the conference. Both teams finished in collegeswimming.com’s top 25.

In 30 years at UNCW, Allen has coached 90 conference champions, 19 Eastern titleists and an astounding 15 All-Americans. But when asked what his greatest accomplishment was Allen said, “[It is] our graduation rate. The people that come into the program have graduated from the program. That to me is really what it is all about.”

With a graduation rate hovering around 100 percent, Allen has coached dominance in the classroom as well as in the pool. During his career seven of Allen’s players have earned the Chancellor’s Cup, UNCW’s highest academic honor for athletes.

Just recently, Allen reached his 400th victory with the Seahawks. When asked what it takes to amass so many victories, Allen smiled and said, “It takes is to have the ability to stick around for a while.”

Allen’s humble nature and passion for the sport are the driving forces behind the Seahawks success. And Allen’s passion for swimming hasn’t wavered over the years.

“The fire is still burning,” he said. “I enjoy working with the young men and women. That to me is the real enjoyment.”

At UNCW, Allen has built the waters, coached in the waters and developed a dynasty in the waters. The only thing he hasn’t done is walk on them.