BATON ROUGE — LSU swimming and diving has added Bryon Tansel as the program’s third assistant coach, co-head coaches Dave Geyer and Doug Shaffer announced Friday.
“I have been overcome with excitement from the first moment I met with the staff and learned of the opportunity,” Tansel said. “Not only has the staff been extremely welcoming, but their energy and excitement for the future of this program is contagious.”
“There is a real sense of family among the coaching staff and within the athletic department. I’m looking forward to building new relationships, and I can’t wait to help contribute to the program’s goal of establishing itself as a top tier program at the NCAA level.”
Tansel joins the LSU coaching staff after three seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University. During his time at EMU, Tansel coached three swimmers to the NCAA Championships, including freshman Delaney Duncan who scored in the ‘B’ final of the 100 breaststroke. Duncan earned NCAA All-American Honorable Mention status with her 14th place finish.
Senior team captain Andrew Henry also competed in the 200 IM, 100 free, and 200 free at NCAA’s. Additionally, Tansel coached Cole Bateman to a semifinal appearance in the 200 backstroke at the U.S. Olympic Trials this past month in Omaha.
“We are thrilled to add Bryon to our staff,” Geyer said. “He has an amazing grass root recruiting background at EMU, and with resources available to him here I think he will do wonders with prospective student athletes. On deck, his former student athletes spoke very highly of him and respected his coaching approach.”
While at EMU, Tansel helped the men’s program win the MAC Swimming & Diving Championship in both 2015 and 2016, while improving the women’s team from 4th in 2014 to second place finishes in both 2015 and 2016. Bryon helped lead the Eagles to 27 varsity records and 8 Mid-American Conference records. Tansel also led the teams to a combined 12 individual and relay MAC Championships during his time.
Prior to joining the Green and White, Tansel coached for the Plymouth-Canton Cruisers in Canton, Michigan, where he was an assistant for the national and senior track groups.
Tansel had year-long stints in Dallas, Texas coaching for the Dallas Mustangs Swim Team national group and the Dallas Aquatic Masters. Before that, he worked at Poseidon Swimming Inc. and volunteered for the Spiders at the University of Richmond. His first coaching job was for Silver Medal, top tier USA Swim club, Oakland Live Y’ers in Troy, Michigan.
A decorated swimmer himself, Tansel swam for Oakland University, where he received All-Summit League First Team honors from 2003-08 and was named the Summit League Swimmer of the Year in 2005. During his career as a Golden Grizzly, Tansel established one school record and four conference records and was elected team captain by his peers during his final two seasons.
Tansel graduated from Oakland in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and this summer completed his master’s degree in sports management from EMU.
He is married to the former Danielle Hulick, who most recently served as an assistant coach of the University of Michigan women’s team for four seasons.
Press Release Courtesy: LSU Athletics
A relentless recruiter who will no doubt put his hard hat on and work hard in all aspects! Has amazing passion and energy as well as ton of untapped knowledge from his Michigan Connection… A TRUE diamond in the rough.
Psyched for Bryon and LSU. Great coach with great energy.
Another summer, another new assistant coach at LSU #nosurprise #notahappyplace
Wow, guess that means his wife will be leaving her job at Michigan. That’s 2 coaches leaving that program this year, with Mark Hill resigning.
Bold prediction, LSU climbs as many spots in the SEC as the number of practices Bryon wrote while at Eastern
This is the SEC, Dave. You can do better than that. Geyer now has a history of hires that are less than splashy.