NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University sailing head coach Mitch Brindley was inducted into the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Hall of Fame, the ICSA announced Monday night.
“I am honored to be included with such an illustrious group,” Brindley said.
Brindley is in his 23rd season as the head coach at Old Dominion, and has led the Monarchs to nine national championships. He has coached 56 All-American's, two female Sailors of the Year and an ICSA Sportsmen of the Year. In 2008 he also coached one of his alumna, Anna Tunnicliffe, in the Olympics where she won a gold medal in the Laser Radial.
“Brindley has stewarded college sailing as the President of the organization at a time of massive investment by member schools in both infrastructure and a commitment to professional coaching,” said Mike Callahan, head coach of Georgetown University.
As a competitor for Old Dominion, Brindley was twice named team captain and twice selected to Sailing World's All-Star Crew. He crewed for the Monarchs when they won the ICYRA Sloop Nationals in 1988, the Dinghy National Championship team in 1989, and the team's fifth place finish in the Team Race National Championship in the spring of 1989.
Also inducted into the hall of fame was former ODU sailing coach, Gary Bodie. Bodie helped the ODU sailing program become a varsity sport in 1981. He coached the Monarchs for eight seasons and led the Monarchs to an intercollegiate Yacht Racing Association women's sailing national championship in 1982.