University of Texas After High School, he received a scholarship to the University of Texas and came under the direction of Hall of Fame Head Coach
Eddie Reese and Assistant Coach
Kris Kubik. At Texas, Dersch was a breaststroke specialist, and made important contributions to three Texas NCAA National Championship teams. Graduating in 1990, Dersch majored in advertising. At the March, 1987 Southwestern Conference Championships at Austin, Dersh took his second-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 55.28.3. Dersch was a two-time gold medalist at the
1991 Pan American Games, in Havana in the 100 breaststroke and 400 medley relay. Dersch was known to have a smooth, fluid backstroke style with little splash. He was considered by some of his coaches to lack the work ethic of some Olympic candidates, though he differed with this assessment. Among his most notable accomplishments during his college years, was being a part of the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, being voted the 1986 U.S. Swimming Long Course Rookie of the Meet, and setting a Junior Olympic Record in the 100-yard breaststroke at the 1986 U.S. Swimming Short Course Championships. == See also ==