Pittsburgh, Pa. – Duquesne swimming and diving head coach
David Sheets has earned a spot on the "75 Greatest Male Athletes" list announced by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in celebration of its 75th anniversary.
The PSAC is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month by unveiling a new list of honorees each Wednesday in September. The first list, released September 3, was "Made in the PSAC," recognizing 75 former student-athletes who went on to influential careers. On September 10, the conference announced the "75 Greatest Female Athletes," honoring standout women who achieved greatness in competition during their time in the PSAC. This week's release highlights the "75 Greatest Male Athletes," celebrating 75 men who left their mark through exceptional performances in conference history.
Sheets, a 1994 Clarion University graduate and 2017 Hall of Fame inductee, was a 20-time NCAA Division II All-American and nine-time PSAC champion. An outstanding backstroke and individual medley specialist, he starred for the Golden Eagles men's swimming and diving program from 1990-93 under legendary coach Bill Miller, earning recognition as both a leader in the pool and as team captain his senior year.
In 1993, Sheets capped his career by winning the 200 I.M. (1:56.12) and 200 backstroke (1:52.48) at the PSAC Championships, while also placing second in the 100 back (52.87) to help lead Clarion to a runner-up team finish. At the NCAA Division II National Championships, the Golden Eagles placed sixth overall, with Sheets earning four All-America honors: 11th in the 200 back, 13th in the 200 I.M., and as part of the 5th-place 400 medley and 7th-place 800 free relays.
The 1992 season was a historic one for Sheets, as he swept the PSAC titles in both the 100 and 200 backstroke while leading Clarion to the conference championship and a remarkable runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, the highest national finish in program history. That year, he collected seven All-America honors, highlighted by a 3rd-place finish in the 200 back, 5th in the 100 back, 9th in the 200 I.M., and three top-10 relay performances.
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"There were so many people in my career from coaches and teammates to family and mentors who have shaped my journey, and I have so many to thank for this," Sheets explained. "I'm truly honored and humbled to be nominated by Clarion and selected by the PSAC for this award. This recognition reflects not just my efforts, but the guidance, support, and inspiration I've received from so many along the way. I'm proud to represent the program and the conference, and I hope it inspires the next generation of student-athletes to pursue excellence both in and out of the pool."
The three-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year will enter his 25th season at the helm in leading the Duquesne swimming and diving program in 2025-26. Under Sheets, the Dukes captured back-to-back Atlantic 10 titles in 2018 and 2019 and have firmly established themselves among the conference's elite, finishing in the top four at the A-10 Championships for 11 straight seasons. A stretch highlighted by a runner-up finish in 2022 and a third-place showing in 2025.
This past season, Sheets once again showcased his championship pedigree, guiding the Dukes to a bronze medal finish with 525 points, the fourth-highest team score in program history. Adding to the historic year, he coached standout freshman
Ashley Freel to Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Rookie honors, making her only the third freshman in program history to claim the award.
In an equally impressive achievement, Sheets's wife, Christina Sheets, was named to the "75 Greatest Female Athletes" list released on September 10.
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