GENERAL NEWS

Arizona State hires Michael Phelps’ coach as new swimming head man

Apr 24, 2015, 8:27 PM | Updated: 8:31 pm

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It’s not often that “star power” and “new swimming head coach” are used in the same sentence, but it might just be a day of firsts.

Arizona State vice president for university athletics Ray Anderson announced Friday that the school has named Bob Bowman as the new head coach for the Sun Devils’ men’s and women’s swimming programs, replacing Dorsey Tierney-Walker, who served in the same capacity from 2009-15 before being fired earlier this month.

Bowman, a 2010 American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Hall of Fame inductee and five-time ASCA Coach of the Year, is perhaps best known for training 18-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Bowman has acted as Phelps’ personal coach from the Olympian’s humble beginnings at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club through the 2012 London Olympics.

Phelps will also train with Bowman at ASU in the lead up to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“Today marks a seminal moment in the Sun Devil Swimming program,” Anderson said. “Bob is an icon in this sport and one of the most respected coaches in the industry. Under Bob’s guidance we will compete for individual, conference and national titles, produce All-Americans and Olympians, and create the most expansive developmental swim program in all of collegiate sports. His experience at every level of competition will allow him to grow our swimming program into an elite team and an invaluable community asset.”

Aside from training and coaching Phelps, Bowman also has previous experience coaching at the collegiate level. From 2005 through 2008, Bowman served as the head coach for the men’s swimming and diving program at the University of Michigan, earning Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and 2008. Bowman also helped the Wolverines produce top eight national finishes in each of his four years at Ann Arbor, including a Big Ten Conference title in 2008.

“I am very honored and excited to lead the Sun Devil Swimming program,” said Bowman. “The leadership and vision of excellence established under Ray Anderson is impressive, and is matched by the enthusiasm and support of the entire Athletic Department. I look forward to returning to coach at the collegiate level and be part of the great community that Arizona State University has to offer. I am motivated by the opportunity to help develop student-athletes as individuals and I am confident that we can build a swimming program that will be a source of pride for all ASU students, faculty and alumni.”

ASU dive coach, and holdover from the Tierney-Walker era, Mark Bradshaw will join Bowman in leading the Sun Devils’ swimming and diving programs. The rest of Bowman’s coaching staff will be assembled throughout the summer before Bowman starts full-time in August.

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