She learned to swim at Hawthorne Pool, competed at Lakeside, set records at Galesburg High School, and went on to Notre Dame. Then she spent 25 years coaching at some of the top programs in the country.
Now Danielle Hulick Tansel is back in Galesburg — and she's running the pools she grew up in.
Tansel was appointed Recreation Supervisor for the City of Galesburg Parks and Recreation Department, with a concentration in aquatics. She started on the job Monday, April 13. She joined Galesburg's Morning News on Friday to talk about the journey home and what she hopes to build.
Topics covered in this interview:
- What brought her back to Galesburg after 25 years away
- Growing up in Galesburg — how the community shaped her
- Her swimming career at Galesburg High School, including a sixth-place national ranking her junior year
- Swimming at the University of Notre Dame — four Big East titles, record holder, NCAA qualifier
- 25 years of coaching at Michigan, Ohio State, SMU, Richmond, and Oakland University
- First impressions of Galesburg's aquatic facilities — Hawthorne Pool and Lakeside Water Park
- Her vision for making Galesburg an aquatic hub for the region
- Adult learn-to-swim, competitive development, and accessibility for all
- Why Galesburg needs more lifeguards — and why retirees should apply
Swim team registration is open now at Lakeside Water Park — participants receive a free pool membership for the summer. Lifeguard positions are also available; the city covers certification costs for those who commit to 20 hours per week. For more information, contact the City of Galesburg Parks and Recreation Department.
Click here to watch on YouTube.
Related: Danielle Hulick Tansel has big plans for Galesburg aquatics — and she's just getting started