Bob Bowman, David Marsh Discuss Olympic Head Coaching Jobs, 2016 Olympics Challenges

Bob Bowman David Marsh 2016 Olympics coaches

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Shortly after USA Swimming announced them as the head coaches for the 2016 Olympics, Bob Bowman and David Marsh spoke with the media about the expectations placed on them in the 11 months before the Rio Olympics and their duties as coaches of the most successful swimming nation. They were joined by USA Swimming national team director Frank Busch.

Marsh: This morning started 3:50 in Charleston where I was at a staff retreat, and to some degree that’s symbolic of where we are this time of the year. Everybody’s in the trenches, they’re working hard, everybody knows it’s the Olympic year. They don’t necessarily need the (Olympic) head coach piece to be motivated. But what I hope can happen by Bob and I being able come together and help form a little bit more clear vision as to what we can do and offer our resources to all the athletes for the opportunities to increasing the medal count and pulling the team together in the best possible way will be increased. I got the call from Frank, and it harkens back to the first phone call I got when I was a 30-year-old punk coach in Las Vegas and I just got this big Auburn job that I dreamed of, and the very first person that called me was Frank Busch. He was just offering his support and advice as to what I could do, and the first thing he said was “Take care of your family first.” That’s kind of how we roll at USA Swimming. We’re a family, and we just have a little clarity as to the roles in the family at this point.

Bowman: It’s hard to express what an honor it is to lead a USA team in any fashion. But to be the head Olympic coach certainly takes it to a new level. I’m incredibly grateful to USA Swimming for that opportunity, and to be able to work with David, who is one of my mentors growing up. We have a very long history, and I think we complement each other well. And I’m very much looking forward to not only the challenges that we’ll deal with, but the fun we’re going to have because I know it’s going to be a great environment, a great team environment, and we’ll be able to build something special for Rio.

Bowman’s take on adding Olympic coaching responsibilities to ASU coaching job
Bowman: I think the move to Tempe facilitates all of this in that the incredible facilities that we have now, the resources that we have, and the environment that (athletic director) Ray Anderson has created for excellence, I think all that all feeds together. It’s really kind of accelerated the process and maybe me being named head coach will kind of add to that excitement because we’ve had a great start with not only the college team but the pro team, and I’m really looking forward to moving ahead with that.

I don’t think it makes it any more difficult (to get the college team running). I think we’ve got it up and running, and we know what we need to do. We have a great staff who’s supporting me. I think it makes it in many ways more fun.

Photo Courtesy: Joe Johnson

Strengths on U.S. women’s team and bringing women together for Olympic team
Marsh: I would say the strengths of this team is in the youth. There’s a swell of youth that’s coming through the United States right now that’s holding the veterans accountable. At the same time, we have some really cornerstone veterans in the program that know how to do this. They know the routine, they know how to get ready for this. I don’t they’ll run into any great surprises. I think it’s a perfect combination of what you could want a year out on the women’s side. Can we get the group together to put together the relays that can win gold? That may be some of the bigger challenges. There are some events that we’re not as strong in. There are some events that the world has improved in. At the same time, there were some swims from Kazan that were relatively “slow,” and I think some opportunities for not just medals, but in some cases, multiple medals (exist).

The best thing we can do is be a support system to whatever’s needed out there to try to bring together the best possible team. Colleges have their agenda set. We’d love to see a commitment by everybody that’s going to be with us in Rio starting this fall. Most have already done that, and I don’t think there’s anything we’re saying to motivate them to get them going. I do think the fall is a critical for development to carry over. Trials come in June. They don’t come in August. They’re going to be upon us quicker than we think and we’ll have a chance to reset for Rio. In terms of training base and getting the work that will sustain them, that has already really begun.

On having Trials back in Omaha
Bowman: I think we’ve already proven now with two Trials that the environment in Omaha is absolutely electric and a tremendous place for people to make an Olympic team. As a coach, for me, the Trials are much more stressful than the Games themselves because you have to get the job done on a certain day. It’s always great to be in an environment where the crowd is so involved, and there’s a large crowd which kind of mimics what’s going to happen at the Olympics. And I think having it there the third time actually helps the athletes who have been a time or two because they’re going to know where everything is, and it kind of helps them out a bit in their performances. It’s also such a charged environment that someone who goes there for the first time is going to be inspired to a new level. So, I think it’s only a positive to have it in Omaha.

Marsh: I think Omaha has put on the two best swimming events that I have ever been to. I do think expectations are high. What you can count on this time is the names are here. Michael (Phelps) is back, and Katie (Ledecky) has been fortified. And there’s some star power that I think is going to make it, to the common person, they’re going to want to see it. You don’t have to be a swim fan to want to come see these top Olympians. Omaha, and the trek to Omaha for young kids all over the country, has been almost like a mecca move in swimming where people need to be there. They need to get their eyes on that unique event. And that’s a real testament to the job that you guys have done in Omaha. I’ll tell you one of my favorite things about being in Omaha is being out in a restaurant talking with the people in Omaha. It’s a pleasant place with pleasant people and you feel welcome in a genuine way. When we can get those baseball players moved out of town, we’ll put on a good swim meet.

On training potential 2016 Olympians
Marsh: For Bob and I, our paying job is really to do what we do. The good thing is we’re the kind of guys that, in the last 10 or 20 years, we wouldn’t make any decisions to be anywhere where (the team) wouldn’t be supporting this (being Olympic head coach) as a number one priority as soon as we’re called for it, so there’s never any doubt of that. I think maybe some of the swimmers that I have right now might be concerned about not getting as much of my attention if I’m out helping somebody else. But my hope is that they can feel part of being doing what we can to help, whether that’s bringing people into Charlotte to swim with us, or we take groups out to train together and maybe offer some parks. I think the thing about the pro swimmers right now, they need some additional stimulation. Just doing the same thing for the next nine months is going to make for a boring training atmosphere. So I think, one way or another, with the clarity that we have now in terms of what our roles are, we’ll just try to help facilitate what the athletes need to be at their best, and I think the coaches are the best sources of that information.

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Bowman: I mirror what David said. It’s exactly right. I assume that having athletes who train for us, or a number of them hopefully who would make it on the Olympic team, it might facilitate some communication about how we operate, the kind of things we expect. Hopefully, it all builds around success at the Olympic level. So, if they can help some people kind of understand how they can communicate with us better, I think it will be a benefit.

On selecting athletes to ensure a place in the Olympic final of the men’s 400 free relay
Bowman: I think we’re going to swim enough (fast) people (in the prelims) to be safe. I don’t know what that number is. I doubt it would be (all) four (of the fastest 100 freestylers on the team). There are some things we would have to look at, and David and I will discuss those with Frank and try to come up with the best strategy and for trying to save some people as much as we can. The reality of our situation now is we have to make sure we’re in the final before we can win a medal. So we’ll do whatever is necessary to make that happen.

On FINA making the “Ryan Lochte turn” illegal in IM races
Marsh: It’s disappointing. Waiting to see how things are going to be called is really what we need to know. And, honestly, what we need to know that for is for the thousands of other kids that will be doing this turn. Now, if you leave the wall at all on your back, does that mean you’re disqualified? By the interpretation they’ve sent, that will be the case. Ryan is a good enough athlete to figure out how to go fast. If you tell him to have to jump out of the water and do a front flip, he’ll go fast doing that if that’s the rule. I’m actually a little more concerned about a knee-jerk reaction to one swimmer figuring out a way that he uniquely – because he has the ability to kick very fast on his back – could benefit from that kind of move.

Busch: I don’t think the chance of that (rule) being overturned is very good.

On keeping the hiring as Olympic coach a secret until the official announcement
Bowman: It was very difficult, and it’s the kind of thing that you immediately want to text somebody or call. Frank said “Do you promise (not to tell anyone)?” And I gave him my word.

Marsh: That was the hardest thing about it. I felt like it was the NCAAs, and you have that event … where you know the meet’s over. You just won the meet, but you can’t celebrate. You have to stay really cool. My first one when that happened, when I knew that we had it locked up, when we had won, I couldn’t show any excitement. I pulled Rowdy (Gaines) into the bathroom at Minnesota and we started celebrating together. I have to confess, though, that I did tell my wife last night.

Busch: I did this (promise them to secrecy) to test their character.

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