Indiana University Athletics
Where Are They Now? - Mary Ellen (Gates) Osborne
10/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 20, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Over the 2005-06 campaign, IUHOOSIERS.com will catch up with former Indiana swimmers and divers to see where life has taken them after graduating from IU. Mary Ellen (Gates) Osborne, who swam for IU from 1978-80, took the time to fill in IUHOOSIERS.com on her life since graduation.
What have you been doing since graduating from Indiana University?
Lots of fun stuff! My first job was Director of the Indiana University Visitor's Center. This opportunity came from my involvement and being Vice President of the IU Student Foundation my senior year. I worked for the Indiana Pacers in sales and marketing. I married Brad Osborne and live in Indianapolis, Ind.
Then, I started using my degree - HPER - K-12 license. I started teaching and coaching swimming. I coached Jordan YMCA and Pike High School. I next coached Hamilton Southeastern Girls High School for a couple of years. During this time, I became a MOM - the best job I ever had - Rob (20), Katie (18) and Scott (11). During this time, I taught swim lessons and private swim lessons at Jordan YMCA. I also helped my husband in his real estate business. I volunteered for many organizations; 500 Festival (Director 1989-1995), Indianapolis Alumni of Kappa Alpha Theta - President (two years), Child Advocates Board of Directors (five years), Heritage Christian Development Chairman (two fundraisers). I chaired several fundraisers throughout Indianapolis - raising a couple million dollars for children's organizations. I have sat on the Indiana University Foundation Board of Associates and Indiana University Alumni Association Executive Council. I am currently part of the Colloquium for Women of Indiana University.
Now since I have kids who swim, I enthusiastically went back to coaching in 1999. I presently coach 10-unders for Washington Township Swim Club - WTSC. I am also Director of Development and Marketing for WTSC. In 1999, I started the Heritage Christian High School Boys and Girls Swimming/Diving Team. I love working with kids and I have been very fortunate that God has given me great opportunities to use my gifts so far in my life!
What did you enjoy the most about your time as a Hoosier?
As I look back, everything! I grew up in an IU family. My Dad used to tell us "You can go anywhere you want to college as long as its state supported, its colors are red and white and its nickname is - The Hoosiers". So we all drove right down I-69 to Bloomington, Ind. As I grew up, my father had been a Trustee for IU, so we spent many weekends throughout my life at the IU Union - home away from home. When I was a young swimmer, my Dad gave me one of the first "What's up Doc?" T-shirts. I wore it to every swim meet during my age group career. In college, my Dad had been a swim team manager for Coach Royer and became a good friend of Doc Counsilman. Throughout my life, I had always been thinking of and caring for IU. When I was young, on Homecoming weekend, we would attend the shows that IU Swimming and Diving presented at Royer pool. The boys would have swim races and Hobie would do his hysterical funny act on the trampoline. I knew I wanted to swim for IU and they eventually started a women's team. I walked onto the IU Swim Team as a freshman and became a second-generation IU swimming family. I loved the people, the travel - several of us have made contact today. We see each other at swim meets with our own kids. Several of my best swim friends were Thetas - Janet Young, Nancy and Susie Lawson. My sophomore year, I joined Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. I cherish the lifetime friendships and relationships that I have with the swimming and Theta women from Indiana University.
My junior and senior year, I was part of IU Student Foundation and my senior year named Vice-President of IU Student Foundation. With all the different opportunities I experienced in four years at IU, I was so fortunate to have a variety of mentors; Doc Counsilman, Bill Armstrong, Jerry Tardy and many teachers from the HPER department - Lucinda Fox, Dr. Gallahue and Dean Tony Mobley.
Indiana University is beautiful. I love spring on campus - the green grass, blue skies and flowers. It was fun to see students come out from winter hibernation to run and sun bathe. Fall is gorgeous. I enjoyed watching all the trees changing colors against the beautiful buildings and sky. Between classes, I loved walking and studying in the Union munching on a no-bake oatmeal cookie from The Sweet Shop.
What piece of advice would you give to any current Hoosier?
Enjoy and savor your experience at IU! It will be the best time in your life. Stand in the middle of campus on a beautiful spring day. Look up at the beautiful buildings against the blue sky, the green leaves and the vibrant flowers everywhere. Take a deep breath and cherish all the smells of fresh air. Get on your bike and ride all over campus. Watch the people playing Frisbee and football in the fields. Take time to laugh, to cry and hug a friend. At IU, there is something, somewhere and someone for everyone. It is one of the most beautiful campuses both figurative and emotionally in the country.
Would you say that being a student-athlete at Indiana University has helped you get to where you are today?
Absolutely, being a student-athlete has helped me in so many different aspects of me life. The contacts and relationships you build are very deep. People realize your level of dedication, commitment and perseverance. A student-athlete develops a sense of discipline and life skills. Student-athletes learn about teamwork and unity. A personal example, I went through breast cancer eight years ago. I feel being a student-athlete enhanced my mental attitude. I looked at the treatment like a 1,000 butterfly - I took it one treatment at a time. I broke out all six treatments into 1x100 at a time rather than the entire 1,000. I got gritty and tenacious to make it through. I have learned to be very goal-oriented and process-oriented. As an IU student-athlete, it gives me an immediate common denominator with people. There are so many ways being a student-athlete helped me in my later life. Most importantly - the friendships!
Anything additional you would like to add?
It was a great honor to be an IU swimmer! I was a walk-on and made a decision that I wanted to be a Hoosier swimmer. I went to every practice because I wanted to. I loved the challenge and never missed an opportunity to participate. One of the most memorable times for me was walking onto the pool deck at Big Tens. We wore our bright red IU sweat suits and IU Big Red cowboy hats. It gives me goose bumps today thinking about it. I was so honored to be amongst some of the greatest swimming athletes - Jennifer Hooker, Kathy Wickstrand, Lindley Peterson, Mary Beth McGinnis - just to name a few. What an incredible experience? We were a team - the IU Swimming/Diving team. One of my greatest opportunities; the travel, the friendships and the life skills are an irreplaceable experience in my life. I am honored to be an alum of one of the greatest programs - Indiana University Swimming and Diving.
