University of Wisconsin associate head coach Erik Posegay has been named USA Swimming’s National Junior Team Director, according to a post on the Badgers’ team Instagram account.
He replaces Mitch Dalton, who was the National Junior Team Director for five years before leaving USA Swimming in the spring of 2020 to become an assistant coach for the University of Texas women’s team, a position he still holds. Dalton was an assistant coach for the Princeton men before joining USA Swimming in 2015.
The position had remained vacant for the past two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posegay was one of Yuri Sugiyama’s first hires when he arrived in Madison in the spring of 2018 and spent four seasons on staff with the Badgers. Posegay was promoted to associate head coach following last season. Prior to joining Sugiyama’s staff, Posegay was an assistant coach at Penn State for two seasons.
During his time in Madison, Posegay was best known for his work with the distance and IM group. Among his star pupils included US National Teamer Ally McHugh, who swam at Penn State and then followed Posegay to Madison to train as a pro after qualifying for the 2019 World Championship team, and Paige McKenna, this year’s NCAA 1650 free champion.
In addition to his work on the collegiate level, Posegay also brings extensive club coaching experience, most notably with Maryland-based club North Baltimore Aquatic Club, with him to his new role. Posegay was initially hired as an assistant coach to Bob Bowman, but was promoted to head coach and CEO of NBAC in 2015 after Bowman departed to become the head coach at Arizona State. Posegay also coached at Parkland Aquatic Club in Allentown, Pennsylvania, before joining NBAC.
Posegay also has experience internationally, having served on Team USA coaching staffs at the 2015 Open Water World Championships, the 2013 Dual in the Pool and the 2010 Junior Pan Pacs. He also served as an assistant coach for France at the 2014 European Championships and served as the head coach for North Macedonia at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Best coach ever, congrats! Don’t miss his 4IM sets though…
Erik would have made a GREAT HEAD COACH for the University of Pittsburgh. Good Luck and keep the young swimmers swimming fast.
Congrats to Erik!! Well-earned position for a great guy and a fantastic coach. Has always displayed remarkable patience and fortitude, and those traits will certainly serve him well here.
He has A LOT of work to do. 2 years with nobody in the position.
Congratulations Erik!
The Lehigh Valley here in Pennsylvania has not been the same since he left. We very much miss this great person!!
oh man don’t say that Jamie 🙁
Where is that job based out of?
Colorado Springs
Say it ain’t so 🥺