After five years, Arizona assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Brandy Maben is stepping down to pursue other opportunities.
Maben stresses her departure has nothing to do with the recent hire of Augie Busch, but is because she’s been presented with multiple opportunities outside of the sport since the retirement of Rick DeMont. She also cites the fact she’s endured three coaching changes in her five years with the program, and that she and her family had to look into the future and decide what was best for them in terms of security and financial stability. Maben says she does plan to continue working after giving birth to her second child earlier this year, saying that she believes she it’s important to set an example for her young athletes that women can be both mothers and have careers.
Maben was previously a standout swimmer for the Wildcats, serving as captain on their 2008 National Championship team. After graduating from Arizona later that year, Maben got her coaching career started by serving as a graduate assistant with Arizona as well as coaching with Ford Aquatics. She then coached at LSU, heading up the breaststroke and IM groups as the program excelled to their best team performance in 30 years.
After two years with the Tigers, Maben came back to Arizona for the start of the 2012-13 season, assuming her role as assistant coach and women’s recruiting coordinator. In her first year back with the Wildcats, Maben helped lead the men to a 3rd place finish and the women to a 5th place finish at the NCAA Championships. They also earned four individual national titles, one relay title, eight school records and three American Records.
Along with her NCAA team championship in 2008, Maben was also a member of three Pac-10 Championship teams while at Arizona. A Pac-10 Post-graduate scholarship recipient in 2008, Maben earned a bachelor’s degree focused in psychology, communications, and education. She also has a master’s degree in sports management.
Read her full statement below:
In the best interest of Arizona Swimming and it’s future I want to make sure the message is clear of my departure from UA. Since Rick’s retirement happened my family and I have been exploring new opportunities that have approached me. My exit has nothing to do with the new hire, I am ecstatic for Augie and his chance to take his dream job and would have loved to take the job Assisting Augie to new heights. I am leaving the program from what I consider a great spot, having recruited the last three consecutive elite level classes for the women. I was excited to take on Men’s Recruiting this year with the title change, however, this time of uncertainty, and now three coaching changes in my 5 year stint, has forced my family and I to look at our future and what is best for us. I have been presented with multiple opportunities outside of coaching that have potential for more sustainability and financial security. I will be pursuing these opportunities and excited about the next challenges of my career. I will be cheering on Arizona as much as ever as these veins will never bleed anything but Red and Blue!
Coach Brandy Maben is a phenomenal coach, mentor, and role model for collegiate swimmers. She knows how to recognize and develop talent like no other coach on deck, and was the difference maker for Arizona Swimming and Diving! She gave each and every swimmer her very best, building and modeling strong character and work ethic in every endeavor. Wishing Coach Brandy and her family the very best. You will be missed!
I’m excited for the UA women’s team! Change is never easy but good will definitely come out of this! STAY STRONG WILDCATS!
I’m excited for the UA women’s team! Change is never easy but good will definitely come out of this! STAY STRONG WILDCATS!
The day before she gets fired…ironic.
actually, I heard that YOU were fired, and that’s why YOU are ironic!!!
HMM fired? Highly doubt an alum, national champion for the program, captain and beloved by her swimmers would have been fired. It looks like she left the program with all respect, but if you want to try and read between lines… here you go!
Most importantly, she singly out recruited him, his kid brother and the president of USA swimming while they drove UVA into the ground. I would say based on the comments under his hiring article that she figured the whole staff would be let go in 3 years. Hard to work for a legend, and now how do you sell daddy’s son to recruits?
Would Busch have even been hired if it weren’t for his daddy?
Classic Busch comment, she leaves the program with all respect and supports the new hire, yet you feel you need to tear her down. How would someone fire and Alum, Captain of a National Championship team, and who has most importantly out recruited the Busch Bro’s + their President of USA swimming father? Highly doubt Augie would get rid of such a talent… but let’s say he did. This would fall in line with all of the negative comments under his hire. It is clear he has not proven anything at UVA and he has big shoes to fill. I would guess if his name was Busch he never would have been interviewed… it took almost 2 months to land… Read more »
Thanks Brandy for everything you’ve given UA, both as an athlete and as a coach. You’ve set a great example for a lot of people, myself included.
Sorry to see him go. Maybe this is a good chance for the team to hire Vadim Jacobson. His summer league is 3-0 and looking for another win this week. They can’t overlook a guy like him
Brandy is a lady
She’s a fine girl, but my life, my love, my lady…is the sea.
I see what you did there! Great song.
Wow not good for the lady Wildcats. She has been a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail. Guessing this hurts the team…. likely to see transfers and a poor recruiting class.
Great coach, best of luck!
This will hurt recruiting as she has been a force to be reckoned with. UA women’s team has a promising group, but this can’t help now or the future. Best of luck coach!