TEMPE – Sun Devil Swimming head coach Herbie Behm has announced the hiring of Michael White as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the program.
A native of Scottsdale, Arizona, White was an assistant coach at the University of Alabama for the last three seasons, helping the women’s program to an 11th-place finish at NCAAs, marking the fifth time in the last six years Alabama placed top 15 at nationals.
White joins an exceptionally talented Sun Devil coaching staff, including head diving coach Marc Briggs, associate head coach Derek Schmitt and coaching assistants Logan Hirka, Alex Sherman, Daniel Matheson and Jack Little, all of whom have helped the Maroon and Gold win back-to-back Big 12 Championships for the men’s and women’s programs.
“Mike is one of the best young coaches in the NCAA. His interview blew me away with the innovative ideas he presented. I can’t wait to start implementing those ideas and continue our growth at ASU,” said Behm.
Prior to his time at Alabama, White worked as a volunteer assistant at the University of Wisconsin (2022-23), where he helped the women’s program to its best NCAA finish since 2017, placing 15th with 100 points.
In his lone season in Madison, Wisconsin. White focused on freestyle, breaststroke and distance groups and helped the Badgers earn 13 All-American honors, 40 Big Ten podium finishes and four individual Big Ten titles.
“I am incredibly honored to return to my home state and join this elite program,” White said. “I’m proud to say that I am coming home. I can’t thank Coach Herbie enough for the opportunity to join his incredible staff and help these young athletes grow and develop into the best individuals they can be. There are so many friends and mentors who have left their mark on this program, and I’m excited for the opportunity to leave mine and help take this program to new heights. Go Devils!”
Additionally, he was an assistant senior coach with the Madison Aquatics Club in 2022-23, where he coached two high school state champions. White made his coaching debut as a volunteer assistant coach for Juniata College (2019-21).
White was a student-athlete at St. Bonaventure University from 2013-2017, where he was a seven-time individual Atlantic 10 champion and earned three school records his senior year: 200 IM (1:47.30), 400 IM (3:52.18) and 200 fly (1:47.70). White served as team captain for two years and helped pace the Bonnies to a 2014 Atlantic 10 Conference team title. White graduated from St. Bonaventure with a master of business administration and a bachelor’s in marketing.
At Dobson High School, he was a 2012 AIA Division I state champion in the 100m breaststroke and the 200m IM during his senior year. White was selected to the All-Arizona first team and All-Tribune first team his senior season.