TEMPE, Ariz. – Head Coach Bob Bowman announced the elevation of former volunteer assistant Logan Hirka on Thursday to an assistant coach.
"I am very grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue to work with such quality people, the athletic department staff, the coaches, and the swimmers, and to build upon the high standards that they have already set in place," Hirka said.
"Logan has been with us since the first day I got here, and he has been a student of the sport," Bowman said. "He was at every practice of our Olympic prep group through our entire preparation for 2016, and he's been at every collegiate practice observing, learning and studying the sport since I've been here."
Hirka spent the last four years under Bowman at Arizona State, with titles ranging from undergraduate student manager to volunteer assistant to now assistant. The Virginia-native also helped Coach Bowman with on deck duties during meets as well as coaching Pitchfork Aquatics during the summertime.
Off the deck, he assisted with statistics, various paperwork and aided Coach Bowman with season plans and initiatives. Hirka balanced this with earning his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, finishing his degree in May 2018.
"As we've progressed, he was the volunteer assistant last season, so he got a lot of active coaching," Bowman said. "He coached with us in the summer in the club program, so he knows our system in and out and he's the perfect choice for this position."
Prior to Arizona State, Hirka was an assistant coach for the Nation's Capital Swim Club's Bronze group at American University. Coaching the Bronze one and two groups, Hirka was in charge of the planning and execution of age-appropriate workouts to aide in the development of young swimmers. Hirka also assisted with the silver and gold groups at American University.
Hirka swam competitively at Denver University (2012-13) for one season. Before arriving to Denver, Hirka swam on various swim clubs and began swimming at the age of six.
Born in Northern Virginia, Hirka's father was in the Air Force causing his family to move around the country, but he considers Vienna, Va. his home.
"If we don't have the best coaching staff in America, we have one of them," Bowman said. "They are people who have bought into the vision of making this program elite and are going to work tirelessly to make that happen."
"I am very grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue to work with such quality people, the athletic department staff, the coaches, and the swimmers, and to build upon the high standards that they have already set in place," Hirka said.
"Logan has been with us since the first day I got here, and he has been a student of the sport," Bowman said. "He was at every practice of our Olympic prep group through our entire preparation for 2016, and he's been at every collegiate practice observing, learning and studying the sport since I've been here."
Hirka spent the last four years under Bowman at Arizona State, with titles ranging from undergraduate student manager to volunteer assistant to now assistant. The Virginia-native also helped Coach Bowman with on deck duties during meets as well as coaching Pitchfork Aquatics during the summertime.
Off the deck, he assisted with statistics, various paperwork and aided Coach Bowman with season plans and initiatives. Hirka balanced this with earning his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, finishing his degree in May 2018.
"As we've progressed, he was the volunteer assistant last season, so he got a lot of active coaching," Bowman said. "He coached with us in the summer in the club program, so he knows our system in and out and he's the perfect choice for this position."
Prior to Arizona State, Hirka was an assistant coach for the Nation's Capital Swim Club's Bronze group at American University. Coaching the Bronze one and two groups, Hirka was in charge of the planning and execution of age-appropriate workouts to aide in the development of young swimmers. Hirka also assisted with the silver and gold groups at American University.
Hirka swam competitively at Denver University (2012-13) for one season. Before arriving to Denver, Hirka swam on various swim clubs and began swimming at the age of six.
Born in Northern Virginia, Hirka's father was in the Air Force causing his family to move around the country, but he considers Vienna, Va. his home.
"If we don't have the best coaching staff in America, we have one of them," Bowman said. "They are people who have bought into the vision of making this program elite and are going to work tirelessly to make that happen."