Former Florida State head coach Neil Harper has accepted the head coaching position on the Aiken-Augusta Swim League based out of Augusta, Georgia. He will replace Adam Byars, who left the program this fall to take an assistant coaching job at Arizona.
Harper was the head coach at Florida State for 14 seasons, and was the ACC Coach of the Year in 2004, 2006, and 2007.
He was very excited about the job when we spoke to him this afternoon. “I’m very excited about this next opportunity. Augusta is a great place to live. It’s a real family atmosphere, and the club there has a lot of potential. It’s a great opportunity for me, and I’m excited to get back to my roots with club swimming.”
Harper has one daughter Katherine who will be a freshman at Montreat College this year, where she will play volleyball, and another daughter Kelly, also a volleyball player, who is in high school.
The Aiken-Augusta Swim League has produced its fair share of Division I swimmers in the last decade. That includes Georgia Tech NCAA qualifier Eric Chiu, 2013 Harvard freshman Steven Kekacs who medaled at the Ivy League Championships, and Texas A&M sophomore Katherine Huff. 13-14 Audrey Robinson is the star of the current class, having been 1:07 in the 100 yard breaststroke already.
Harper, through his work, has been on deck at two Olympic Games coaching different countries, including seeing his former swimmer Stephen Parry earn bronze in the 200 fly at the 2004 Olympics. He and his wife Paige Busch were both All-Americans and SEC Champions at LSU. Harper won 7 All-American awards as a swimmer, was a senior during LSU’s only SEC Team Championship, and was a two-time Olympian for Great Britain in 1984 and 1988.
Previous coaching roles include two years as the women’s head coach at Ohio State in the late 90’s, an assistant position under Don Gibb at Florida State from 1994-1997, and an assistant position at LSU.
Congratulations Neil and ASL! Neil will love the Augusta area and Georgia Swimming. Club swimming is quite competitive and it is a great place to coach.
How can Jackie Jeschke, who last year swam at the Olympic Trials at 14 yrs old and achieved a world championship trials cut this year, not be considered the star of the current ASL class? The team has a very strong group of 14-15 yr old girls, four of whom have won individual state championships. One item to note is that Neil has had a prevoius connection with ASL having recruited and coached former ASL swimmers CJ Hendry and Nick Brown at Florida St.
Why did Jackie’s mom or whoever post twice?
How can you not mention current ASL swimmer Jackie Jeschke as being the star of the current class when she competed in the Olympic trials last year at 14 yrs old and had a world championship trial qualifying time this year. One item to note is that Neil had some previous connection with ASL having coached former ASL swimmers CJ Hendry and Nick Brown while at FSU. Good pickup for ASL, who currently has a very strong group of 14-15 yr old girls.
and there have been numerous other D-1 swimmers-current Gardner -Webb, former Clemson,current GT swimmer. Some of those didn’t swim until 8th or 9th grade. Other potential college swimmers include Brennan Day. Adam Byars did a great job and Mr Harper is a great hire.
Great hire! Congratulations Neil. ASL is in a great position going forward. Go Cobras!
“I’m excited to get back to my roots with club swimming.” I see only college positions on past jobs, did Harper ever coach club?
I’d say Jackie Jeschke is also a star on the team, 2:16 200 back LC(just sayin)
Haha thanks Lauren 🙂
That’s what I’m saying, stick up for other people that should be mentioned! haha thanks Lauren!