[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8541]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO FRANK COMFORT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2007

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
extraordinary accomplishments of a distinguished educator, coach Frank 
Comfort. It is fitting that we recognize this exceptional gentleman for 
his remarkable contributions to higher education, his manifold 
successes and abiding dedication to college athletics, and his enduring 
influence on generations of college students.
  Frank Comfort has the distinction of being the winningest dual-meet 
swimming coach in NCAA history. He has amassed an unparalleled record 
of leadership and has devoted his time, skills, and energy to 
cultivating the very best in student-athletes. His career has been 
defined not only by athletic achievement, but by a dedication to the 
development of young men and women who are student-athletes in the 
finest sense: those who successfully combine athletic prowess with 
academic achievement.
  Frank Comfort is a 1967 alumnus of Syracuse University, graduating 
with a Bachelor of Arts in history and physical education. He went on 
to earn a Master of Arts in physical education from the University of 
North Carolina, UNC, and in 1968, became the head swimming coach for 
men and women at Johns Hopkins University. At Hopkins, his swimmers won 
12 NCAA individual titles and one NCAA relay title. In 1977, Frank 
Comfort returned to UNC, where his consistent leadership and dedication 
to excellence for 30 years as Head Coach have made him one of the most 
respected college swimming coaches in history.
  Many people have made notable contributions to collegiate athletics. 
Few leave the legacy of Frank Comfort. He has developed swimming teams 
that have thrilled the collegiate athletic world with their courage, 
skill and achievement. Frank Comfort's swimmers and divers have won 
often and won big. Of his 578 dual meet wins, 308 have come while 
coaching men's teams and 270 while coaching women's teams. More than a 
decade ago, Frank Comfort became the winningest swimming coach in the 
history of the Atlantic Coast Conference in terms of league 
championships won. Overall, he has led Tar Heel teams to 25 Atlantic 
Coast Conference championships during his tenure--the most in 
conference history by a single coach. In his 30 years at UNC, his 
women's teams have been a consistent national force, finishing in the 
top 25 an astounding 25 times, including nine seasons in the top ten. 
During his long tenure at UNC, he has taught many National Collegiate 
Athletic Association, Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for 
Women and U.S. Swimming national champion swimmers. Several of his 
swimmers were chosen to represent the United States in the Olympics as 
well. Because of these accomplishments, Frank Comfort's stature as a 
coach has solidified in the amateur and international ranks. Among his 
many additional coaching positions, he served on the coaching staff at 
the U.S. Olympic Festival on six occasions and as the head coach of the 
U.S. Women's Team which competed in the Goodwill Games in St. 
Petersburg, Russia, in 1994.
  It comes as no surprise that Frank Comfort's name has been on the 
U.S. Swimming International Coaches List consistently since 1976, an 
honor going only to the most elite coaches in the United States. He was 
named the youngest recipient ever of the Master Coach Award from the 
College Swimming Coaches Association and was inducted into the Johns 
Hopkins Athletic Hall of Fame.
  Frank Comfort is a living testament to the positive role that 
collegiate athletics plays in our national experience. His guidance has 
empowered both teams and individuals to fulfill their promise and to 
extend their purpose and passion, to step out of their comfort zone and 
excel. Athletic achievement is not an endeavor that runs itself. It 
requires the constant leadership, foresight, encouragement, and 
discipline that can be afforded only by dedicated coaches. Coaches are 
one of the best examples of what is great about our country. They 
inspire students and athletes to become better people; to give their 
best in every endeavor and to make the most of their God-given 
abilities. Frank Comfort's leadership is about cultivating the promise 
of the human spirit and encouraging those who work daily to make that 
promise a reality.
  Frank Comfort's career will soon come to a close. After almost 40 
years as a coach and educator, he has left an indelible mark on college 
athletics and on countless students whom he has coached, mentored, 
advised, and inspired. Please join me in commending Frank Comfort, 
distinguished coach and educator, and an exemplar of strong character 
and leadership.

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