Coaches David Marsh (C) and Bob Bowman (R) are announced as the head coaches for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team on Sept. 9, 2015 in Cleveland.
CLEVELAND – Hall of Fame coaches Bob Bowman of Arizona State University and David Marsh of SwimMAC Carolina have been named the men’s and women’s head coaches for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team, respectively.
The announcement was made by USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch during the American Swimming Coaches Association World Clinic at the Renaissance Cleveland by Marriott.
“Bob and David are two of the most dynamic, innovative and well-respected coaches in our sport. They’ve done amazing work with many of the world’s top swimmers and their international experience will be valuable as they guide our athletes in the lead-up to and at the Olympic Games,” Busch said. “I believe they’ll do a tremendous job preparing our team to succeed next summer in Rio.”
Both first-time head coaches for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team, Bowman and Marsh each served as Olympic assistant coaches three times. Both were 2010 American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Hall of Fame inductees and were listed among the “30 Most Influential People in Swimming over the Past 30 Years.”
A men’s assistant coach for the 2012, 2008 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Teams, Bowman most recently served as Team USA’s men’s head coach at the 2013 FINA World Championships and 2014 Pan Pacific Championships. The longtime coach of 22-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps, Bowman was named the head coach at Arizona State University earlier this year. In addition to his work with the Sun Devils, Bowman currently coaches Phelps, fellow Olympic gold medalist Allison Schmitt and FINA World Championships medalist Chase Kalisz.
Prior to taking over at ASU, Bowman served as the CEO and head coach of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club from 2009-15 and the head men’s coach at the University of Michigan and Club Wolverine from 2005-08. In addition to guiding Phelps to 18 Olympic gold medals, Bowman has worked with Olympians such as Peter Vanderkaay and Eric Vendt throughout his career. The Columbia, S.C., native has been named ASCA Coach of the Year five times and the USA Swimming Coach of the Year on six occasions, both most recently in 2012.
"It is an incredible honor to be asked to lead our Olympic Team and I am truly grateful for this opportunity,” Bowman said. “I take this responsibility very seriously and will strive to help each team member be at their very best in Rio. There is much work to do, but I am confident that Team USA will again represent our great nation in an exemplary fashion.”
Marsh, a men’s assistant coach for the 2012, 2000 and 1996 U.S. Olympic Teams, also has served as a Team USA’s head coach at the FINA World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships and FINA World Championships – 25m. Since 2007, he has worked as the CEO/Director of Coaching at SwimMAC Carolina where he currently coaches 12 members (six women, six men) of the 2015-16 USA Swimming National Team, including Olympic gold medalists Ryan Lochte, Cullen Jones and Tyler Clary and 2015 FINA World Championship silver medalists Cammile Adams and Micah Lawrence.
Throughout the course of his career, Marsh has coached more than 30 Olympians. Marsh served as the head coach at Auburn University from 1990-2007, where he guided the Tigers to 12 NCAA titles, 17 Southeastern Conference crowns and was a nine-time NCAA Coach of the Year. His programs at Auburn were the first ever to win the men’s and women’s NCAA championships in the same year, a feat the Tigers accomplished three times.
“It is a profound honor and an exciting challenge to be named head coach for the women's U.S. Olympic Team. The U.S. women's team has great potential, and I'm sure all are working very hard right now to be their best in Omaha and in Rio,” Marsh said. “I will do all I can to uphold the unmatched tradition of excellence that has been established by the swimmers and coaches from the previous Olympic Games.”
The 2016 Olympic Games pool competition in Rio de Janeiro will be held Aug. 6-13, 2016. Swimmers will compete for spots on the Team USA roster for the Games at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming set for June 26-July 3 in Omaha, Nebraska.
The coaching nominations are pending the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee.