[5][6] After High School, he attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, beginning in 1957, where he swam under Coach Bob Casey,[2] receiving his Bachelor's degree in 1961, and a Masters from the College of Education and Human Services in 1962.
[5] In July 1973, he was hired to coach his Alma Mater Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU) by Athletic Director Doug Weaver, where he remained through 1984.
But unlike Northwestern University, SIU had a longer history of giving swimming scholarships, and his first-year team was strong, inheriting five All-Americans recruited by former coach Ray Essick.
[11] His SIU teams at Southern Illinois were six time winners of the National Independent Championship and in ten years finished their swimming season rated in the top 20 in NCAA Division I competition.
Three time Olympic medalist Rowdy Gaines did promotion for Justus Aquatics and also assisted with the teams and the summer skill camps.
[13] Harris Rosen, a prominent Orlando hotelier, former Disney executive and philanthropist who later helped update and fund the facility, swam at the Justus Aquatic Center by 1987.
[14] The Center was a frequent site for high profile national competition when Steele coached there and hosted the 1986 World Championship Trials, the 1986 U.S. Open, the 1985 U.S.
The courses he taught and the lectures he presented during this period were largely of his own design and content, and gathered a wide audience.
[3] Steele became a member of the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Hall of Fame in 2016 and is a recipient of the Southern Illinois University (SIU) Distinguished Alumnus for Professional Achievements.