Mike Chasson, Head Swim Coach for Arizona State University, Steps Down

PHOENIX, Arizona, April 27. MIKE Chasson announced to his swimmers this morning that he will not be returning next year as the head men and women's coach for Arizona States University.

Coach Chasson will remain working with the Sun Devil USA Swimming club team to support the team on deck and administratively. "The college athletes who remain with the university to train this summer will not be impacted by this change," coach Chasson reported to Swimming World Magazine. "I have notified all recruits and incoming freshman of the change," added Chasson.

Assistant Coaches Kyle Schack and Simon Percy will continue with the program.

About Mike Chasson from ASU's Media Guide
In ten years as the men and women's head swimming coach, Michael Chasson has guided the Sun Devils to success levels not seen in Tempe for over 15 years. As the first coach to officially head both the men's and women's swimming programs at ASU, he arrived on campus in 1998 with the dual challenge of rebuilding both programs into top-level national finishers annually. The progress the teams have made under Chasson's watch is evident.

In 2008, both the men and women's team finished in the top 20 at the NCAA Championships. The men's team finished 18th. Chasson helped lead senior C.J. Nuess to a Pac-10 Championship in the 1,650 freestyle and All-American accolades in the 400 IM. Nuess also earned honorable mention All-American honors in the 1,650 freestyle. The women's team finished 17th nationally. Senior Caitlin Andrew broke five school records and earned All-American honors in the 100 fly and honorable mention All-American accolades in the 50 and 100 freestyle. The 200 and 400 relay teams of Caitlin Andrew, Jen Beckberger, Lindsey Brown and Jess Perazzo earned honorable mention All-American honors while the 200 medley relay team of Andrew, Lindsey Russenberger, Beckberger and Brown was named honorable mention All-America.

In 2007, the women's team finished 16th overall and the men finished in the top 25. Caitlin Andrew set new school records in 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly, as well as earned All-American accolades for her third consecutive season. The women's 200 and 400 medley as well as the 200 free relay team also earned All-American honors. CJ Nuess garnered All-American accolades in the 1650 free and 400 IM. Chasson also led Gal Nevo to a Pac-10 Championship in the 400 IM.

In 2006, ASU's men's team finished in the NCAA top-20 for a fifth consecutive season, and Chasson's swimmers earned a total of six All-America honors, and six new school records were established over the course of the season. The women's team was headlined by Caitlin Andrew, who set new school records in the 100 free, 100 back and 100 fly events, while the men's team was guided by All-Americans Lucas Azevedo and Gal Nevo.

In 2004-05, both the men's and women's teams finished in the NCAA top-20 for the fourth consecutive year, as well as a fifth (men) and sixth (women) place finishes in the Pac-10. In just his fifth season with the Sun Devils, Chasson led both the men's and women's teams to top-12 NCAA finishes, the first time that has happened since 1987 and only the third time in Sun Devil history.

Equally significant to Chasson has been ASU's performance beyond the national standings, tallying 51 school records, over 200 All-America honors and the fourth NCAA individual event title all-time for men's swimming (Attila Czene, 200 IM, 2000). In his short tenure, his coaching talents have attracted the likes of Olympic gold medalists Attila Czene and Ágnes Kovács to Tempe to don the maroon and gold, in addition to Pan American Games medalists Nick Brunelli and Florencia Szigeti. Chasson has also had his own international experiences, serving as an Olympic coach for the Egypt swim team in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games.
Chasson, came to Arizona State from Harvard University, where he led the Crimson to six Eastern Seaboard Championships and seven NCAA appearances in seven seasons.

Chasson graduated from Stanford in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in political science, and earned his teaching credential in secondary education from San Jose State University in 1977.

Chasson's wife, Jill, was a 1992 Olympian competing in the 200 breaststroke. The couple are proud parents of Alex, born on May 22, 2000 and Caroline, born on November 4, 2002.

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