Peter Neal Hovland (August 17, 1954-) was a competitive swimmer for Chico State, and an Assistant and Head coach for Michigan's Oakland University from 1979-2023, where he led the men's team to four consecutive NCAA national titles from 1994-1997, and an exceptional forty-four consecutive conference championships from 1979-2023.
[6][1] Hovland was born August 17, 1954, in Shasta, California, but grew up in the San Jose Valley area.
He swam as a youngster at the local San Jose YMCA, which would later combine with the renowned Santa Clara Swim Club.
[8] He swam middle-distance freestyle, finishing in the upper echelon of Division II competition and was coached and trained by Dr. Ernie Maglischo.
[2] [5] Already excelling in his Freshman year at Chico State, at the 1973 Division II NCAA Championships, Hovland swam for the record breaking 4x200-yard freestyle relay team of Bruce Oliver, Neil Glenesk, and Chis Webb, which set a new national record of 7:06.6 minutes.
[10] At Chico State's 1976 Division II NCAA Championships in Springfield, Massachusetts, Hovland and the team won the title with a record 428 points over Northridge State and a record 145 point margin of victory, the largest lead over a second place team in the history of NCAA championships.
[11] In 1976, for his swimming achievements at Chico State, Hovland was chosen to be the Far Western Conference (FWC) Athlete of the Year.
Oakland is located in Rochester, Michigan, about 40 minutes North of Detroit, and was an NCAA Division II competitor at the time.
[3][13] Hovland assumed the Head Coaching position at Oakland in 1981, where he led the Golden Grizzlies for 42 years.
Mike Koleber, a 1984 graduate of Oakland, served as swim team captain, won 11 NCAA national titles between 1984-1987, and later helped found the large Nitro Center swimming facility in Cedar Park, in greater Austin, Texas where he had served as head coach.
Hovland attended the 1988 Olympic games with Woods, and served as the swim coach for the Netherland Antilles.
His former coach at Chico State, Dr. Ernie Maglischo, who helped recruit him to Oakland, also was elected to the honor.