Former Saluki swimmer Gustavo Leal begins his seventh year as an assistant to his former head coach, Rick Walker, in 2007.

During his first three years as an assistant coach, Leal helped SIU win an MVC title in his first year (2002), finish as runner-up in 2003, and win the first MVC Invitational title in 2004.

Leal has been a part of the SIU men's swimming program since 1998. He was a key member of the 1999 MVC championship team, swimming on the championship 200 and 800 freestyle relay teams, earning all-MVC honors in 1999 and 2000 in both events.

Leal was also named to the 1999 and 2000 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team. Before coming to SIU, Leal was a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national champion at national power Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Florida. SIU head coach Rick Walker also attended Indian River Community College.

Leal also earned NJCAA All-American honors eight times in the 100, 200, 500 and 1650 freestyle at Indian River from 1996-98.

Leal has also served as an assistant coach of the Saluki Swim Club the last eight years and continues to work with the Saluki Swim Club while coaching at SIU.

He graduated in May of 2001 with a degree in management and marketing and added a master's degree in business administration in May of 2004. Leal, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, lives in Carbondale.