When Termin arrived in Buffalo in 1987, he had a clear vision: to transform UB's Division III men?s swimming and diving program into a formidable Division I contender. He wasted no time in pursuing his goal, and soon led the Bulls to a remarkable double victory in their debut season of Division I competition in 1991-92. They clinched both the East Coast Conference Championship and the ECAC Championship, earning Termin two Coach of the Year awards in a span of 10 days. Termin also holds the distinction of being the only coach in UB history to produce a swimmer who met an Division I time standard and competed at the NCAA National Championship. At the 2000 Spring USA Swimming Nationals, the Bulls secured a 24th place finish among the countries best teams, setting a new record for UB's highest performance at an elite level. Over his 20-year career, Termin has mentored six athletes who received seven conference Swimmers of the Year awards, and guided his teams to seven conference championship titles. He has been honored with five conference Coach of the Year awards, as well as the American Swimming Coaches Association?s Outstanding Coaching Achievement Award. During his tenure, Termin coached every UB school record holder, and his swimmers have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, the Canadian Olympic Trials, the NCAA Division I Swimming Championships and the USA Swimming National Championships.

Termin?s teams have not only achieved in the pool, but also in the classroom. They earned the NCAA All-Academic Team Award from 1992 to 2007. In the fall semester of 1993 and the spring semester of 1995, the Bulls achieved the highest team grade point average among all NCAA Division I men?s swimming and diving teams. Since joining the Division I swimming ranks in 1991, UB has made it to the College Swim Coaches Association of America?s (CSCAA) list of top academic teams in all but four semesters.

Termin's innovative coaching methods span from the pool to the academic world, where he has gained international recognition as a researcher in collaboration with Dr. David Pendergast, professor of physiology and biophysics at UB. Termin's research on the biomechanics of swimming and his invention of a patented training system earned him the prestigious State University of New York Chancellor?s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in May of 2001. Termin was the first coach for any sport to receive this award by the State University of New York System, which honors superlative performance and outstanding achievement by professional service employees.

At UB, Termin established a 60-meter donut-shaped water course in the Center for Research in Special Environments (CRESE). Along with Dr. Pendergast, he measured the oxygen consumption (VO2) of swimmers, which indicates their metabolic horsepower?. He then enhanced the swimmers VO2 through training in the donut, boosting their efficiency and power. Termin and Pendergast also examined swimming techniques related to strokes and pace control. In 2000, they received a US Patent for a pace-light "System and Method for Training a Swimmer" together with John Zaharkin. The system consists of an underwater pacing light system and a computer program that can pace up to 24 swimmers at a time and run training intervals for an entire team. Swimmers using the system can adjust their mechanics and instantly see if the changes affect their speed. A two-year study of freestyle swimmers showed that those using the system improved twice as much as those not using it. This Patent was originally registered in the U.S and in 26 countries.

Termin also played a key role in persuading UB officials to install an ultraviolet equipment system in UB?s Alumni Arena Natatorium, putting the University?s facility at the forefront of water treatment technology. The UV system was donated as a Gift-in-Kind to the University at Buffalo by Wedeco/Ideal Horizons, a Poultney, Vermont-based company that leads the field of ultraviolet technology, Environmental Resources Management of Pittsford, New York, the consultant for the project, and Final Filtration, Inc. of Amherst, New York. It was installed in the spring of 2000. UB?s Alumni Arena Natatorium is the only pool in New York state with an ultraviolet system that cleans the pool better than chlorine without using chemicals. It also creates cleaner air for UB?s swimmers to breathe in as they train and compete, thus enhancing their overall metabolic power and swimming performance.

Termin has made a lasting impact on the swimming world. He has received numerous invitations to speak at national and international conferences and symposiums, including the World Swimming Symposium held in Finland in 1998, where he was one of only three Americans invited to speak. Dr. Pendergast cites the published observation that Termin's swimmers times improve eight to 10 percent over the swimmerscar eer while nationally, swimmers improve between one and three percent as evidence of Termin?s success at applying his research findings to develop his swimmers? abilities.

Termin also left his mark on the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He collaborated with Dr. Pendergast and Dr. Joseph Mollendorf, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, to create a swimsuit with turbulators sewn into the suit to reduce drag. Swimsuit company TYR licensed the design and several international swimmers wore the suit at the games. They included 200 and 400 IM gold medalist Yana Klachkova (Ukraine), 200 backstroke gold medalist Kristy Coventry (Zimbabwe) and 400 IM silver medalist Erik Vendt (USA).