Year Inducted: 2020
Nominated By: Judy L. Davis (sister)
Sports Competed In: Swimming
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach
Brian Jeffrey Pearson
Before High School:
● Begin swimming at an early age (8) for the Bessemer Blue Whales of the Pueblo Swim Club (1974-82).
● Swam for the Pueblo Aces (1983).
● 16-time State Champion various events.
● State records in 15-16 & 17-18 boys/ 50 Free 100 Free 200 yard & meter Freestyle.
● Ranked third in the country (nationally) in 1982, in the 50 Meter Freestyle.
High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Achievements:
High School:
● Participated in the Wildcats swim program.
● Helped Central to 2nd and 3rd place finish at state high school championships (1982).
● Garnered two state high school championship in 1983 in the 100 and 200-yard freestyle.
● Two-time Junior National Champion and Record holder 50- and 100-meter freestyle (Times remained on USA Swimming top 100 times for over a decade).
● Times ranked in the World's Top 10 for 17-18-year old's (1983).
● Colorado Male "Swimmer-of-the-Year” (1983).
College:
Attended the University of Missouri (1983-85) and the University of Wyoming (1986-88)...An Alumnus of the Univ. of Wyoming, having received his Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation in 1992.
Achievements:
College:
● At Missouri, was crowned the Big 8 champion in the 400 Medley Relay (1984).
● National Finalist in the 400 Medley Relay (1985).
● Transferred to the Univ. of Wyoming and was a two-time Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Swimming Champion in the 200-yard Freestyle (Pool Record Holder at Air Force Academy) and 400 Medley Relay (1988).
● USA Swimming National's finalist and Olympic hopeful in two events.
● NCAA Division I Qualifier.
Coaching Career:
● Since his collegiate coaching career began in 1989, Brian Pearson has received five College Swimming Coaches Association of America Coaching Excellence Awards (2001, 2004, 2006, 2011 & 2012). In addition, he has assisted or directed winning programs in Denver (ACES), Greenwood Village (GTS), Delta (Barracudas), Grand Junction (Dolphins), Pueblo (South), Sitka, Alaska (Baranof Barracudas) and Colorado Springs (CSST).
● Instrumental in reviving Colorado College Program 1998-2006.
● American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA)/College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Coaching Excellence Award recipient (2001, 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012).
● ASCA Level "V" equivalent.
● Developed lasting cooperative relationships with United States Swimming Association, the United States Olympic Committee and several local age group swimming programs.
● Started New Swimming Program at Mesa State College (Colorado Mesa University) in 2006.
● Helped reinstated swimming at Western State College via alumni events (2006).
● Instrumental in reestablishing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships with Colorado School of Mines coach Dave Hughes (2008).
● Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference “Coach of the Year” (2009).
● Colorado Mesa “Athletic Team of the Year” (2012)
● Assisted with recruiting at Adams State University (2013).
● Started New Swimming & Diving Program at Colorado State University-Pueblo (2014)
Professional Affiliations/Achievements:
● During his collegiate coaching career, his athletes have captured over 1,000 school records at their respective institutions.
● In 2006, at Colorado Mesa University (CMU), Pearson recruited the largest swimming team fielded at NCAA Division II (28 women; 43 men).
● Coached CMU to a ranking of 12th in the nation in his final season in 2012.
● Brian enters his seventh season at CSU-Pueblo…He was named the first head coach of the CSU-Pueblo swimming and diving team in January, 2014.
● Coached nine All-Americans (2001, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012) and 68 NCAA qualifiers.
● Pearson-coached teams won an astounding 104 events at conference championships.
Personal:
Born in Pueblo and has been a resident for 27 years.
