Former Virginia assistant Sam Busch won’t be joining his brother Augie in Arizona afterall. Sam, the younger of the two, has been announced as the new head swimming and diving coach at TCU. He takes over for Richard Sybesma, who retired after 38 years at the helm of the program.
Sam Busch has worked at many of the country’s top programs in his decade-long coaching career. He started his career coaching at Arizona from 2007-2009, straddling his 2008 graduation from there, working under his father Frank Busch – the outgoing USA Swimming National Team Director. He then spent 2 seasons as an assistant at West Virginia (who at the time were in the Big East (they’re now in the Big 12 with TCU). His next stop was at Auburn from 2011-2013 before he joined his brother as an assistant at Virginia.
CollegeResume:
- Arizona 2007-2009
- West Virginia 2009-2011
- Auburn 2011-2013
- Virginia 2013-2017
- TCU 2017-
He also spent 5 seasons as an assistant at Tucson Ford Aquatics, who won a USA Swimming team title in 2010, and 3 years as the head coach of the Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson.
“When the opportunity to usher in a new era of TCU swimming and diving was offered to me, I accepted the honor with great enthusiasm and heartfelt gratitude,” Busch said. “To work with one of the country’s great athletic directors in Chris Del Conte is beyond fortunate.
“Thank you to Chris and senior associate athletics directors Jack Hesselbrock, Gretchen Bouton and Mike Sinquefield for their attention and consideration during this process. I am so humbled to become a part of the tremendous athletics success at TCU and am already at work trying to make sure I am worthy of the confidence that has been placed in me. Go Frogs!”
TCU competes in the Big 12 – a conference dominated by the two-time defending NCAA men’s team champions Texas. Both their men’s and women’s teams finished last at last year’s Big 12 Championship meet – the men 3rd out of 3 teams and the women 5th out of 5 teams.
The TCU men haven’t had an All-American since the 1997 NCAA Championship meet (they’ve scored at two: 1994 and 1997), and the TCU women scored once – in 1993.
TCU’s current Director of Athletics, Chris Del Conte, was the senior associate athletics director for external operations and sports programs at Arizona from 2000-2006, overlapping with Frank Busch’s tenure there.
“We are very excited to welcome Sam to the TCU family and Fort Worth,” Del Conte said. “TCU is a destination in collegiate athletics. We had a lot of interest in this position. The search process confirmed to us how special and desired it is to be at TCU and how we’re viewed across the country.
“Sam is a perfect fit for us. He comes from a tradition-rich Virginia program in which he played a major role in their recruiting and team success. He is also part of a great family coaching tree. We have no doubt Sam will have the Horned Frogs Factor in leading our swimming and diving programs.”
Sam, Welcome to the TCU family. Excited for next era of Horned Frog Swimming and Diving. Go Frogs!
Hey SwimDawg…pretty much in agreement with your statements but your WAY better comment about UVA vs NC State …REALLY? You are way out of line! .There has been an interesting swimming relationship with those two schools for many years because of the great friendship between Bernadino and Easterling. Be ready for more of the same.
Both Clif Robbins and Cory Chitwood are listed on Arizona’s staff directory online (in addition to Sam – so it appears that at one point he was actually going there). I doubt Cory would be taking over at UVA. Not quite enough experience yet to be a head coach. Did a great job with Leah and Brendan Casey, but it’s much different coaching one particular group versus managing a whole team. Give it a few years and BOTH Clif and Cory should have their own teams.
If Cory wanted to take over at UVA that would have happened already. He loves Arizona and wanted to get back. Watch Cory coach at Arizona one day.
Busch family is running on hopes and dreams. The pool deck at practice is where it counts and they nobody speaks highly of them… contrasted with that of NC state…fsu women, they did not get the job done in the acc, the most open conference for improvement out there…. would be crushed in a real conference. Ncaa rank does not lie… UVA was great… take away smith and they don’t stand up. Talk all you want… They had the same # of scholarships as NC state and a better facility and a WAY better school. They have been creamed by them… no excuses. Daddy busch.
Who will take Sams place at UofA? He (and Cory Chitwood) were supposed to be on staff as assistants.
Frank’s not doing anything these days. Maybe he can split time between Tucson and Fort Worth propping up his sons’ coaching careers.
Clever and original. Bravo
Congrats to a long time friend and fellow coach. UVA interviewed 3 people. 1 offered the job. Should have an announcement soon if he accepts.
Anyone want to play the guessing game of a man with no face?
Todd
Todd who??
He has no ties to NC State (not a graduate) and is a great coach. Wonder what Ryan Held/Justin Ress would think if that does happen………
Congratulations Sam.
Congrats Sammy! Your deserve it. All the best at TCU!