While the rumor mill is still swirling every obvious name for who will be the next head coach of the storied men’s swimming & diving program at the University of Texas, there might be a twist in the hunt for Eddie Reese’s replacement with the Longhorns.
Multiple individuals who have familiarity with the search tell SwimSwam that Texas is considering a ‘Director of Swimming’ position for the right candidate. This person would directly lead the men’s team and oversee the entire swimming & diving program, including the women’s team that has finished 2nd at each of the last three NCAA Championship meets.
This structure allows University of Texas administrators flexibility in two key ways: it allows them to go after a coach who wants to continue to coach both genders, and it also allows them to set a higher payscale for the program without either creating a standard for the head coach of just the men’s team or creating a significant pay disparity with women’s team head coach Carol Capitani for a similar position.
The same individuals didn’t rule out that the structure could be in reverse: Capitani could become the Director and oversee both programs while Texas hires a less-experienced head coach to run the men’s program.
While it is not always overtly stated, many collegiate swim programs are structured this way around the country where the nominal head coach focuses on one gender while staying involved with the other alongside a coach hired specifically to lead the other gender.
Texas is unlikely to make an announcement this week with the men’s NCAA Championship meet and Reese’s swan song, and nobody SwimSwam spoke indicated that they knew whether Texas had any agreements in place (formally or in principle), but as the biggest off-season job available and a lot of other dominos ready to fall behind it, the Longhorns are expected to move quickly and lock in a new coach before the recruiting period opens for the Class of 2026.
Texas does have some good young pieces, notably freshman Will Modglin who is projected to be their top scorer at NCAAs, and Nathaniel Germonprez. Still, this summer’s recruiting cycle will be crucial toward rebuilding depth on a roster to a level where Texas can again compete for NCAA titles.
Looks like Bob is Carol’s new boss.
CTP breaks it for ya
Remember Monday is April 1st.
It’s gonna be Hansen.
Came to post the same.
Taking a poll. Upvote means its Bowman, Downvote someone else…
Hasn’t been announced because they are giving the next coach a chance to tell current team after NCAAs. Regan Smith entered transfer portal, Texas NLI money can pay her more than what she makes as a pro. NLI money will be used to convince Marchand to stay in NCAA. Texas wins both womens and mens NCAAs in Bowman’s first year as the Director of swimming. A title that allows Texas to pay him more money 👀
I’ll give you the first part but a little premature on the second part.
Don’t forget about the transfer portal. The roster can change overnight nowadays. If my scenario were to happen what would stop any student that wants to train with Bob and live in Austin from entering their name in the portal?
What NIL donor wants Regan at Texas that bad? This ain’t football bro.
NIL pay-for-play money is already in swimming. It’s not the scale of football, but it’s there. Nobody wants to talk about it on-the-record tho.
Bowman never gets the Longhorn nod.
And what say you now? Is ok. Some of my predictions have been horribly wrong as well.
Bowman has zero chance.
You here me Howie?!
I wonder if the Texas pro group will split up if the athletic department does something dramatic. It would be fairly convenient timing with a new Olympic cycle starting up. I’m thinking it really only affects C. Foster, Licon, and Casas.
Leah Smith on the women’s side
What no one has discussed is how involved, if at all, will Eddie Reese be in the process for filling these positions? (Gimme a percentage)
5%
I understand Augie might be available …
What about his brother Sam?