TEMPE, Ariz. - Sun Devil head swimming coach Bob Bowman was named the men's swimming head coach for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, USA Swimming announced today. It will be Bowman's first time as head coach of the Olympic swim team. David Marsh of SwimMAC Carolina will coach the women's team.
“Bob and David are two of the most dynamic, innovative and well-respected coaches in our sport,” USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch said. “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.I believe they’ll do a tremendous job preparing our team to succeed next summer in Rio.”
Bowman was named the head coach of the Arizona State swimming program on April 24, 2015 and is the third head coach in ASU history to direct both the men and women's swimming teams.
VIDEO: #Rio2016 men's HC @coach_bowman talks #TeamUSA, @ASUSwimDive, his background & more with @RowdyGaines: https://t.co/3UPAACRekh
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) September 9, 2015
Bowman is the longtime coach of 18-time Olympic gold medalist Phelps and has served as assistant coach in three different Summer Olympics, including 2004 in Sydney, 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London. He was the U.S. men’s head coach at the 2007, 2009 and 2013 FINA World Championships and was an assistant at the 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2011 World Championships. Bowman’s swimmers have set 43 world records and more than 50 American records under his guidance.
"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.”
Bowman is heavily involved in a number of community-driven swim initiatives, including his work with the Michael Phelps Foundation and its signature program – im – that provides underserved children with water safety, recreational aquatic activities, and goal setting programming. The Michael Phelps Foundation, for which Bowman serves as a board member, currently implements the “im” program in 35 Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 29 states as well as 160 teams through the Special Olympics in 34 countries.
A 2010 inductee into the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Hall of Fame, Bowman is a five-time ASCA Coach of the Year and is the most-honored coach in the 40-plus years of the award. He has earned USA Swimming Coach of the Year honors six times, the USA Swimming Foundation’s Golden Goggle Award four times, and was the 2002 USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year.
In addition to Phelps, Bowman guided Allison Schmitt to five medals, including three gold, at the 2012 Olympics, and coached 13-time international medalist Conor Dwyer.