Olympic Gold Medalist Cesar Cielo Moving to Tempe, Scott Goodrich Being Hired as Head Coach of Sun Devil Aquatics

TEMPE, Arizona, October 22. IN a huge coup for Sun Devil Aquatics, not only is it regaining a former top-flight assistant coach from the Arizona State University coaching staff as its new head coach, SDA will also have Olympic gold medalist Cesar Cielo training in Tempe through 2016 as part of the deal.

According to a source close to the situation, ASU volunteer assistant coach Scott Goodrich will be named head coach of Sun Devil Aquatics, and his former Auburn teammate Cielo will be making Tempe his primary training base through the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Since Swimming World first broke the news, Sun Devil Aquatics Club President Mike Chasson has now officially confirmed the news to Swimming World this evening.

Cielo will be getting away from all the media and fan hoopla in Brazil to refocus on his training, as well as what will be a nationwide celebration of the sport of soccer next year with the soccer World Cup in Brazil. The move will truly help Cielo focus on what is going to be an important buildup to his native nation hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Cielo won the Olympic gold medal in the 50 free in 2008, and wound up with bronze in the event in 2012. He also doubled up in the sprint events this past summer with wins in the 50 free and 50 fly at the World Championships, and will definitely add some firepower to local swimming. With South African sprinter Roland Schoeman also training in the area, there could be some really special head-to-head battles in local meets.

Goodrich joined the ASU swimming staff as a volunteer in 2009 before earning a full time assistant position with the Sun Devils in 2010. The past season, he has been serving as Cielo’s personal coach, before bringing him back to the Valley of the Sun.

Goodrich is a local product of Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Ariz., who went on to earn 10 All-American citations as an Auburn Tiger from 2004-08. He teamed up with Cielo on some epic Tiger teams during that time period as Auburn won the 200 medley relay and 200 free relays in 2007 and 2008 with Goodrich and Cielo on the squads.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x