Coy Cobb Experience: 1981-84

Five-time All-American Coy Cobb is arguably Clemson's greatest male swimmer of all time. He was one of only three Tiger swimmers to be named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary team and was Clemson's first ACC Swimmer-of-the-Year.

He also represented the United States as a member of the national teams in 1984 and 1985. His 200-meter medley relay team set an American record in 1984 at the international meet in Brazil. Cobb recorded a second-place finish in the 100-meter backstroke at the same competition. At the 1985 international meet, Cobb placed in four events. He was also a finalist at the 1984 Olympic Trials in the 100-meter butterfly; he qualified in two other events. His time in the 100m fly at the meet was among the top 25 in the world.

The Maitland, FL native began swimming when he was six-years-old. By age 10, he had already earned national accolades as the best 10-year-old swimmer in the country by Swimmer's World. However, the young star took a five-year break from the sport afterwards. He returned to the pool with college in mind. Swimming was his ticket to a scholarship. He chose Clemson because it stressed school along with sports. He never regretted his decision and became a life-long Tiger. His father describes him as being very modest about his personal achievements and always focusing on team goals. Both attributes made Cobb successful during his tenure as a Tiger.

The 1985 team finished 26th at the NCAA Championships, the highest finish ever for the men's swimming and diving program. Cobb earned NCAA All-America honors in the 100m butterfly and in the 100m backstroke by finishing in the top 12 in the nation at the NCAA meet. The 1985 team placed second at the ACC Championships. They were ahead by one point entering the final event. Cobb won three individual events and one relay title, as he had the fastest times in the 100m breaststroke, 200m backstroke, 100m butterfly and as a part of the 400m medley relay.

Cobb set numerous records and garnered countless honors from 1981-1985. He was a three-year All-ACC selection after placing in the top three at the conference meet in 12 events. When he graduated, Cobb held four pool records and eight school records, including five individual and three relay. He set four school records during a single meet in 1983. Nine of his times were among the fastest in history by Clemson swimmers. Three of his pool records still stand today, and he is still listed among the top 10 in six events. Cobb qualified for the NCAA Championships in 1983, 1984 and 1985 in eight total events. In addition to his two NCAA All-America awards in 1985, the swimmer earned national honors in three events at the United States Senior Nationals in 1982 and 1984.

Cobb graduated with a degree in Administrative Management and took a position with Colgate-Palmolive, where he worked for 14 years. He competed with the Master's Swim Program in 1990, an organization for swimmers over 25. At the championship meet, he set a National record in the 50m fly and placed in four other events.

Cobb lost his battle with brain cancer on October 26, 2000 at his home in St. Petersburg, FL. The new record board at the recently renovated McHugh Natatorium was dedicated to his memory. His former teammates raised the money on their own to honor one of Clemson's best.

"His teammates described him as their 'go-to' guy. They knew Coy would always come through," his father Edgar Cobb remembers. The elder Cobb and Coy's sister Grace will be accepting his Hall of Fame award for him this weekend.