In May 2006, Pierce was named as the recipient of the
United States Olympic Committee's
Doc Counsilman Science Award for 2005. Named for the
Indiana University swimming coach and instituted by the USOC in 2003, the Counsilman Award honors coaches who conduct and use research, along with developing innovative training methods. Pierce was one of three finalists for the 2004 award, and received it on June 23, 2006, in
La Jolla, California at the Night of Champions Reception, which opened the United States Olympic Assembly. ==References==