Raleigh, NC – The YMCA of the Triangle Area (YOTA) Swim Team is excited to announce the addition of Chris Bushelman to its coaching staff as the new Chapel Hill-Durham Senior Site Director. Chris will bring his vast YMCA coaching experience and thorough knowledge of elite level swimming to the Chapel Hill-Durham area and will be called upon to further increase YOTA’s footprint throughout the Chapel Hill-Durham area.
Chris has spent the past three years as the Head Coach/Director of Competitive Swimming at the Great Miami Valley YMCA in Ohio. Chris showed the ability to grow a program without sacrificing quality while at the Great Miami Valley YMCA. During his time there he oversaw a 60% increase in swimmer participation over a two year period. He led his program to its highest ever finishes at YMCA Nationals during his stint there. Chris has also developed and coached multiple Junior National Finalists, US Senior National Qualifiers, and Olympic Trial Qualifiers; most notably this summer’s Junior National Champion in the 400 IM (4:22.25) and 2015-2016 US National Junior Team member, Mark Andrew. Most importantly, Chris has coached several athletes that have earned scholarships to compete at the collegiate level across the country.
Before his time as a head coach, Chris was the Head Age Group Swim Coach at the South Family YMCA – Key Swim Team from 2010-2012. During his time as an Age Group Coach he gained valuable experience working with all levels of athletes from beginner to YMCA National Qualifiers. His coaching efforts saw multiple team records broken (many records 10+ year old), and his team’s largest number of athletes ever to participate at the YMCA Regional AA Championship Meet.
“We were thrilled at the amount of qualified candidates that applied for our senior coaching position in Durham-Chapel Hill. Chris separated himself from the other candidates with his success in coaching senior level athletes and his ability and passion to help grow the YOTA program,” says Chad Onken, Head Coach/Director of Competitive Swimming for the YMCA of the Triangle Area (YOTA) Swim Team. “Chris will make an excellent addition to our coaching staff and will help us expand our culture of excellence to the Chapel Hill/Durham area. He understands the importance of character development and the YOTA core values and we can’t wait to get him on deck as quickly as possible.”
Chris is a proud alumnus of the Ohio State University, and is an avid Buckeye’s fan. Chris is married to his wife Amanda, and they have two young girls Bella and Lily.
Swimming news courtesy of YOTA swimming.
We will miss Chris greatly! Wishing you well!
EMC
Chris Bushelman is an excellent coach, as well as a great husband, and dear friend. His passion for the sport, and it’s athletes is unrivaled, and will certainly be utilized at YOTA