INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Former University of Michigan men’s swimmer Brent Lang (1987-90) has been announced as one of the six recipients of the 2015 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, the NCAA announced on Thursday (Dec. 4). He will be recognized at the 2015 NCAA Honors Celebration, held Friday, Jan. 16 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md.
The NCAA Silver Anniversary Award recognizes six distinguished former student-athletes on the 25th anniversary of the end of their intercollegiate athletics eligibility. The Honors Committee, comprised of representatives of NCAA member schools and nationally prominent former student-athletes, selects each year’s recipients. The other recipients of the award are Jennifer Azzi (Stanford), Pellom McDaniels (Oregon State), Bernard Muir (Brown), Mike Mussina (Stanford) and Tamyra Rogers (Oklahoma).
Lang was among the world’s best sprinters in the late 1980s and is among the best swimmers to ever compete for the University of Michigan. Under the direction of legendary head coach Jon Urbanchek, Lang was a four-time NCAA champion, winning two titles in the 50-yard freestyle (1989-90) and an additional two in the 100-yard freestyle (1988, 1990). He was a 12-time NCAA All-American and 12-time Big Ten champion, while being named 1988 Big Ten Co-Swimmer of the Year and earning the 1990 Big Ten Medal of Honor. With Lang on the team, Michigan won four consecutive Big Ten titles and never finished lower than sixth at the NCAA Championships. Heading into the 2014-15 season, Lang still appears on the Big Ten’s All-Time top times list, ranking fifth in the 100-yard freestyle (42.62) and ninth in the 50-yard freestyle (19.36), both from his senior year in 1989-90.
Following his sophomore season, Lang represented the United States at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, winning a gold medal as part of the 400-meter freestyle relay. He also won a pair of gold medals at both the 1989 Pan Pacific Championships and 1990 World Championships.
Academically, Lang was a 1989 Academic All-American and was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship in 1990. He graduated from Michigan with a degree in industrial and operational engineering before earning an MBA from Stanford. He is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Vocera Communications in San Jose, Calif. Lang continues to stay involved with Michigan Athletics, supporting a scholarship for the swimming and diving program as part of the Victors for Michigan campaign.
Last October, MGoBlue.com caught up with Lang for an Alumni Q&A. To read, click here.
Above is a press release submitted by the University of Michigan.
