Laura Seibold-Caudill has raised about 600 student-athletes as head coach of the Ball State women's swimming and diving team. They weren't actually her own kids, but for past and current swimmers, it certainly seemed that way.
She's made Lewellen Pool her second home and has been the face of Ball State swimming and diving, but after the Mid-American Conference Championships this weekend, Seibold-Caudill will retire—a decision she said wasn't easy to make.
"I was emotional," she said about her announcement. "It was harder for me I think than it was for [the team]."
At the age of 59, Seibold-Caudill will leave a legacy on Ball State swimming. Because she has been involved with the community for over three decades however, she knows the relationships made will always remain, but will also be dearly missed.
After swimming for Michigan State, Seibold-Caudill began her coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Virginia.
"I was a collegiate athlete and I coached on the side in the summers. I decided that I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to stay in the field," she said. "And I'm glad I did."
It's that same enjoyment and passion for the sport of swimming that keeps Seibold-Caudill coming to work every single day. In 33 years, the only sick days she used were for the birth of her children.
While that enjoyment is still alive, she ultimately announced her retirement at the Oct. 14 Red and White meet. Current and former swimmers were shocked to hear the news. Throughout the 2011-12 season, she's been receiving e-mails from former swimmers wishing her well and reminding her of how she changed and influenced their lives.
"I was pretty saddened by her announcement," said Michelle Braden, who swam for Seibold-Caudill from 2002-2007. "I was excited for her, but she brought so much fun to the pool while I was there, and so it's sad to see that she is going to leave."
Those who have swum under Seibold-Caudill's direction have had the opportunity to experience that zealous fun firsthand. For the coach, enthusiasm comes from the desire to instill motivation in her athletes. Seibold-Caudill, who has a master's degree in Sports Psychology, says she works on motivating every day.
"How do you motivate? It's hard," she said. "You have to instill that element of motivation, pride, enjoyment and confidence in their own psyche. External motivation is one thing, but internal motivation is much better for a person to succeed."
Her strategy has proved to produce results—and not just in the pool. Last season, the women's team was named by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America as a Scholar All-America Team for averaging a 3.6 GPA during the spring semester. The team finished a close third in the country, with Yale and the University of Alabama barely ahead.
The two-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year is hesitant to single out her most successful season, however one thing is certain: she will be leaving the program on a high note. Last year, her swimmers and divers broke 12 records—a memorable moment that Seibold-Caudill considers just one of many successes.
"Last year, when 12 [records] were broken, that was huge. But back in 1990, we broke every single school record. Plus we got third as a team and I was coach of the year," she said.
After retiring, Seibold-Caudill plans to spend some time traveling with her husband. Because coaching is pretty much a 24 hours, seven days a week job, the couple has not been able to do much outside of Muncie.
Although traveling may be on the top of her to-do list, don't expect Seibold-Caudill to leave Lewellen Pool forever.
"I'm still going to stay involved with coaching to some extent," she said. "I don't know if I'll help out with the local swim club in town, or with the PE department right next door…I'm not going to totally disappear."
She has expressed that she will stay visible to the Ball State swimming and diving team as well. Whether it's helping set up a home meet or coming on as a volunteer coach down the road, she'll still be involved.
When the season ends after this weekend, the only thing Seibold-Caudill is worried about is waking up one morning with the feeling she made the wrong decision.
"I think about that everyday," Seibold-Caudill said. "I thought about it after we beat Michigan State and after we beat Illinois State. But it's a decision I made and I'm going to stick with it. I doubt myself all the time but you have to [retire] sooner or later."
Seibold-Caudill's swimmers will remember her as a coach who truly cares enough to get to know her athletes on a personal level.
"She's different [from other coaches] in the fact that I feel like I can have a relationship with her outside of the pool," said Sarah Hostetler, captain of the women's swim team. "She cares about who you are as a person and she cares about developing your character, as well as becoming the best athlete that you can."
Though the women's swim team is prepared for their beloved coach's retirement, they know that her leaving does not mean goodbye. Because of the close relationships they have formed, they know that her retirement is just the beginning of great memories to come.
Sports Editor Mat Mikesell contributed to this story.
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