May 19, 1998
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University has named Michael Chasson as its mens swimming coach, Athletic Director Dr. Kevin White announced today.
"It pleases us to announce Michael Chasson will be leading our mens swimming program into the next century," said Dr. White. "He brings with him great credentials and a wealth of experience that will be an asset to the swimming program at Arizona State."
Chasson replaces Dr. Ernie Maglischo who announced his retirement April 20 after a five-year stint at the school.
Chasson comes to Arizona State from Harvard University, where he led the Crimson to six Eastern Seaboard Championships and four NCAA appearances in his seven seasons at the Cambridge school.
"Im excited about the opportunity to coach a tradition-rich program like Arizona State." said Chasson. "I believe ASU should be a school where in being in the top five should always be a goal and I look forward to that challenge."
Chasons best run came this past season when Harvard qualified nine swimmers for the NCAA Championships and finished 11th. During his tenure at Harvard, Crimson swimmers broke 27 school records and earned all-America honors 35 times.
Success came quickly to Chasson, who led Harvard to the NCAA Championships in his very first year with a 21st-place finish. A three-time Ivy League Coach of the Year, Chasson also led Harvard squads to the NCAAs in 1996 (16th) and 97 (18th).
In 1997, Chasson was the Head Men's Swimming for the World University Games.
Before arriving at Harvard in July of 1991, Chasson spent three seasons as an assistant womens coach at Stanford. During his time on The Farm, Chasson worked with Olympic coach Richard Quick in helping lead the Cardinal to one NCAA Championship (89) and a pair of NCAA runner-up finishes (90, 91). Chasson, whose primary task was to coach the breastrokers and sprinters, was instrumental in the development of NCAA Champions Jill Johnson, Janel Jorgensen, and Lori Heisick, as well as eight other NCAA all-Americans.
Chasson graduated from Stanford in 1974 with a bachelors degree in political science, and earned his teaching credential in secondary education from San Jose State University in 1977. He began his coaching career as the head coach of the Los Altos Aquatic Club in Los Altos, Calif., in 1974 and spent six years there before accepting the same position at the Santa Barbara Swim Club (SBSC) in Santa Barbara, Calif. During his tenure at the SBSC, Chasson placed swimmers in the top eight at nine senior nationals. SBSC placed in the top 10 in team scoring five times in Chassons eight years at the club. Chasson also tutored swimmers at the SBSC who placed at the World Championships and Pan American Games. Among the pupils he coached at the SBSC was Richard Schroeder, who was a gold medalist in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
Chasson is married to the former Jill Johnson, a 1992 Olympian who swam in the 200 breastroke.
Arizona State finished with a 7-4 dual record in 1997-98 and advanced to the NCAA Championships, where it finished 10th.
Chasson becomes the seventh coach in the history of ASU mens swimming, which began in 1952.