BY Gary Post Tribune

In my years as a columnist John Narcy's story is one of the most fascinating I have ever run across.
Honored by the Gary Old Timers after coaching diving at Michigan State from 1964-2002, the local recognition was long overdue.

Consider that the Tolleston High School graduate was named national coach of the year in 1990, and was also honored four times by the Big Ten.

His mythical path to coaching fame came almost by accident, starting with his senior year.

Back then, Tolleston didn't have a pool, let alone a team. On his own initiative, Narcy became a self-taught diver at CYO and YMCA pools, but to be eligible, Tolleston had to compete in at least one dual meet. To meet that obligation Narcy persuaded Dick Hill and three other classmates to swim against Froebel without the benefit of coaching. From there he needed to finish in the top six in the conference to qualify for the state meet. Narcy survived a mishap to qualify.

"I was leading, but hit the board on a dive and finished third," said Narcy.

To dive at Purdue he hopped on a Greyhound bus alone and dressed in a track uniform.

"I barely knew how to compete," recalled Narcy, a compact, scholarly looking man surrounded by well-wishers at the Avalon Manor.

After taking a comfortable lead in the prelims he beat runner-up Roland Brown by 89 points. Brown, also a gymnast, later won a Big Ten title.

Narcy's stunning emergence in 1953 earned him a scholarship to Michigan, but he went in through the back door.

"Nobody knows this," he said, "but I went on a football scholarship."

It was a package deal aimed at enticing Hill, a standout lineman for the Wolverines.

Narcy was a defensive back at Tolleston, but never played a down at Michigan.

"Never played football, never intended to," chuckled Hill, who lives in Hobart.

While he was earning MVP lineman honors, Narcy focused on diving. His scholarship was dropped after two years, but Michigan's nationally ranked swimming team picked up the tab.

Narcy received All-America honors twice and served as captain of Michigan's 1957 national championship team.

After coaching at three different Illinois high schools he signed on in 1964 as a graduate assistant and diving coach at Michigan State

He's most proud of having coached Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse, who won six Big Ten titles, two NCAA titles, was a runnerup in the world championships and fifth in the Olympics in the 80s.

"I would have had two other Olympians," said Narcy, his voice tinged with regret, "but that was in 1980 when we boycotted because of the Russians."

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