The Wolfpacker

54 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Easterling joked. "I am only 83 years old, but the problem is I act like I am 70, run- ning around and doing different things." True to his coaching roots, Easterling still spends time instructing. He teaches the masters swimming team at the ACAC Family Fitness Center in Charlottesville, spending about five hours a week between Aug. 31-Dec. 31 holding classes. He works with a variety of pupils, from triathletes to those simply trying to get in better shape. "I love the technique style of coaching more than I ever have before," he said. "I am probably a lot smarter now. I wish I had known in my younger days what I know now about motion, movement and distance of strokes. I think I have perfected them. I enjoy doing that very much." He admits that he misses his family and friends in the Lone Star State, but Char- lottesville "is going to be home for me I guess." He has about a 100-acre property with a "big old farmhouse" out in the woods located south of Monticello and featuring a beautiful view. He keeps fit with the help of the active Great Danes that he breeds. Although Easterling joked he would flunk a writing class, he always had a writ- ing bug of sorts, and he combined that with his love of the Christmas season, rooted from his childhood days in rural Arkan- sas where his grandfather played the local Santa Claus, to recently release his ninth version of Christmas-themed short stories, all non-fiction. This fall, Easterling also became a great grandfather. And from a distance he keeps an eye on NC State, becoming one of current head coach Braden Holloway's most ardent be- lievers. Holloway won his first ACC title this past spring, and Easterling would not be surprised if he goes on a streak similar to his 12-straight feat. "He is one heck of a coach," Easter- ling said. "He's an outstanding coach and tremendous recruiter, and he's got a staff there that really gets it. Every stage of their program is top notch, everything. "He's going to be a legend, and he's go- ing to be around a long time." Easterling himself still longs at times for those days of college swimming. "I miss the university scene a lot," East- erling said. "It was a lot of fun to work around student-athletes." That was especially true for him at NC State. Easterling will be inducted to the school's athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. That joins a list of Hall of Fames for East- erling that also includes the Texas Leg- ends of Swimming and the Association of Swimming Coaches of America. He made it back in September for an alumni gathering at NCSU, a nostalgic trip for the old coach. More than 40 former swimmers had already established an en- dowment in his name in 2007. "When you work at State, there is a very special bond there that's not in other walks of life," he summarized. ■ WHERE ARE THEY NOW? "I love the technique style of coaching more than I ever have before. I am probably a lot smarter now. I wish I had known in my younger days what I know now about motion, movement and distance of strokes. I think I have perfected them." ■ Easterling The men's program won ACC titles in Easterling's first 12 years on the job, and he led the women to a pair of league crowns in 1975 and 1976. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS

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