NCWSA Hall of Fame – Class of 2023: Dr. Tom Strong – National Collegiate Water Ski Association

Dr. Tom Strong (Doc) has a legacy which lives on through his passion for the University of Alabama, the sport of water skiing, and most importantly the skiers to whom he was a mentor. The landscape of collegiate skiing today would be remarkably different had it not been for his dedication to the Bama programs.

Doc enjoyed a thirty-eight year career at the University of Alabama during which he served as the Director of Student Services, Dean of Students and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. An avid water skier, Doc became involved with the water ski team shortly after it had formed, and helped the group of skiers navigate the process of becoming an official club at the University of Alabama. From that point on, Doc served as the team’s faculty advisor. After retiring from the university in 2007, Doc continued to dedicate his time to the University of Alabama Water Ski Team, serving as the team’s volunteer coach until his health precluded him from doing so.

While other large SEC schools like Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, The University of Mississippi, and the University of Tennessee struggled to sustainably field teams, Dr. Strong ensured that the University of Alabama Ski Team never faltered.

These accomplishments alone would be enough to warrant Doc a spot in the NCWSA Hall of Fame, but for Doc his skiers were more than just a collection of students who represented the University of Alabama on the water. They were family. While Dr. Strong’s love for water skiing was indisputable, on the water performances were not paramount to the growth and personal development of his skiers.

Sending one’s children to college is a big step for any parent. Doc assured parents that their children would be safe at the University of Alabama promising that he would take care of his skiers. Doc took a personal interest in the lives of his skiers, often taking them to lunch, inviting them to dinner at his house, or encouraging them to religious services with him and his wife. While naturally topics of conversation were often about skiing, the team and recruitment, he also made sure to ask about one’s classes and encouraged his skiers to make their studies a priority.

Doc was a major asset to the water ski community and helped turn the University of Alabama into a perennial contender. His hard work and dedication to the sport of collegiate water skiing earned him a spot in the NCWSA Hall of Fame!