Mark Schubert Named USA National Team Head Coach and General Manager, Lindsay Benko is National Team Managing Director

By Phillip Whitten & USA Swimming press release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 12. LEGENDARY swim coach Mark Schubert was named to the newly-created post of USA Swimming National Team Head Coach & General Manager, it was announced yesterday. He will begin his duties in May, with his contract extending through 2013.

The decision was revealed on Saturday in the form of a letter sent by USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus to members of the National Team, USA Swimming Executive Committee and the Olympic International Organizing Committee (OIOC) Committee, and the news spread like wildfire throughout the swimming community.

SwimmingWorld Magaazine.com had learned of the decision about a week ago but was waiting until after the men's NCAA Division I Championships ended, on March 26, to make the announcement. According to informed sources, USA Swimming had intended to wait until the NCAA season was over to make its announcement, as Schubert is head coach at the University of Southern California and his Trojans are expected to be major players in both the women's and men's championship meets. However, according to these same sources, the USC athletic administration wanted the additional two weeks to begin a nationwide search for Schubert's replacement.

It is believed that rather than relocating to Colorado Springs, Schubert will conduct his operation as National Team Head Coach and General Manager from his home in Surfside, California.

Neither Schubert nor Wielgus was available for comment today.

Reportedly, Schubert was Wielgus' top choice for National Team Director three years ago, after Dennis Pursley stepped down. However, at the time, Schubert decided to remain as head coach at USC and his Trojan Swim Club.

Four strong candidates interviewed for the job in January 2003, though each had his detractors. In a surprise — and masterful — move, Wielgus selected Everett Uchiyama on an interim basis. Later, that appointment was made permanent, and Uchiyama remained in the post until he resigned about a month ago.

The following is the USA Swimming release on the appointment of Coach Mark Schubert:

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Mark Schubert (Surfside, Calif. / University of Southern California) was appointed to the newly-created position of USA Swimming National Team Head Coach & General Manager. One of the most influential leaders in the history of the sport of swimming, Schubert brings 37 years of coaching experience to the position, helping ensure that USA Swimming will maintain its position as the No. 1 team in the world.

"Mark Schubert is the most respected coach on any pool deck in the world,” said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming Executive Director. “Hiring him is the equivalent of hiring the Mike Krzyzewski of basketball.

“The swimming world is becoming increasingly competitive. Because of this, we felt it was critically important to make a bold move in hiring a technical and political leader of Mark’s caliber to provide vision for America’s athletes and coaches. Having Mark at the helm of our National Team will be paramount for our Olympic and international success in 2008 and beyond.”

“Having the honor to help the nation’s best coaches cultivate the nation’s best talent is huge,” said Schubert, who has served on seven consecutive U.S. Olympic coaching staffs, most recently as the women’s head coach in 2004. “Anything I can do to help them win Olympic medals and give our athletes the best possible Olympic experience will be my goal.”

Schubert, who has been the head coach at the University of Southern California for the past 14 years, will relinquish his coaching responsibilities at the University of Southern California, Trojan Swim Club and his camps, in order to focus on this position full-time. He will be based in Los Angeles and will begin fulfilling duties in this role beginning in May. His term will last through 2013.

Schubert has demonstrated coaching success at all levels – club, college and international – matched by few coaches in the history of the sport. At the club level, Schubert found success on the national swimming scene as the head coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadores from 1972-85, where his teams won a record 44 U.S. National team titles during his tenure. Schubert also served as the head coach of Texas Aquatics for four years, leading the club, along with head coach Eddie Reese, to 10 national team titles.

At the collegiate level, Schubert coached at the University of Texas from 1989-92, leading the Longhorns to two NCAA team titles (1990 and 1991). Since coming to the University of Southern California in 1992, the Trojan women have taken home one NCAA team title under Schubert, in 1997. His swimmers have won 49 NCAA individual titles.

At the international level, Schubert has been a familiar face on the Olympic coaching scene, serving on every Olympic coaching staff since 1980 and placing 38 swimmers on U.S. Olympic teams. In addition to leading the women’s squad in 2004, he headed the women’s team in 1992 and the men’s team in 2000. He was a women’s assistant in 1996, and was an assistant for the combined men’s and women’s teams from 1980-1988. He is also a seven-time World Championships coach, serving as the head men’s and women’s coach in 1982.

In his new position with USA Swimming, Schubert will be responsible for overseeing and directing all aspects of the National Team program. He will serve as the head coach of the National Team at international competitions, working with the appointed head men’s and women’s coaches to prepare U.S. athletes to compete at the highest level possible. Additionally, he will lead all efforts to represent the USA’s technical interests nationally and internationally. Schubert will report directly to Wielgus.

“This position has traditionally required a unique combination of being a technical swimming leader and an administrative leader,” Wielgus said.
“Mark brings those talents and more to the position, and we are confident he will elevate the role and put us in the best position for success in the future. We are 100% committed to performance excellence at the highest level of competition and the importance of this function within the organization.”

As a part of the restructure, Olympic gold medalist Lindsay (Benko) Mintenko (Elkhart, Ind. / University of Southern California) will assume the role of National Team Managing Director, working together with Schubert to oversee and manage the day-to-day affairs of the National Team Division. Mintenko will report directly to Schubert.

A three-time Olympic medalist, Mintenko was one of the world’s top freestyle swimmers, winning gold medals as a U.S. team captain at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Mintenko was hired as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California in July 2005 after serving as a volunteer assistant coach with the Trojans from 2001-04. She has also served on the USA Swimming Board of Directors since 2005 and the International Relations Committee.

“Lindsay Mintenko has one of the best swimming minds I’ve ever encountered,” Schubert said. “She brings vast experience from a spectacular international swimming career and as a two-time Olympic team captain.”

Mintenko will act as the liaison to the Athletes’ Executive Committee and the National Team athletes and coaches, working with Schubert to develop the National Team high performance plan. She will also oversee the administration of the National Team programs, services and budget, in addition to supervising the National Team staff.

“I’m honored to be appointed to this position,” said Mintenko, who competed under the tutelage of Schubert at the University of Southern California from 1996-99. “This new role within the swimming community gives me the opportunity to add enhanced athlete insight to the U.S. National Team, and I hope to continue our history of success in being the best swimming team in the world. Mark and I are a great team, we work well together, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

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SCHUBERT Bio

RESIDENCE: Surfside, Calif.

COACHES: University of Southern California and Trojan Swim Club

PREVIOUS TEAMS:

– Has served on seven consecutive U.S. Olympic coaching staffs, three as a head coach (men in 2000 and women in 1992 and 2004)

– Seven-time World Championship team coach (1978, ‘82, ‘86, ‘91, ‘94, ‘98, ‘03); head men’s and women’s coach in 1982

– 1999 Pan Pacific Championships men's head coach

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

– Was hired at the University of Southern California in 1992 as men's head coach; added women's head coach title in 1993

– Head Coach at the University of Texas (1989-92)

– Head Coach of Texas Aquatics (1988-92)
– Head Coach of Mission Bay Makos Swim Team (1986-89)

– Head Coach of Mission Viejo Nadadores (1972-85)

– Head Coach of Cuyahoga Falls High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (1971-72)

– Began his coaching career at the University of Kentucky as an assistant coach from 1969-71

OTHER:

– Has won three NCAA titles (1990, ’91, ‘97), and his athletes have won 49 NCAA individual titles

– 1999 USA Swimming, U.S. Olympic and ASCA Coach of the Year

– 1997 USA Swimming, U.S. Olympic, ASCA, NCAA and Pac-10 Coach of the Year

– Five-time American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year (1975-76, ’81, ’97, ‘99)

– Inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1997

– Winningest club coach in USA Swimming history, earning a record 63 U.S. National team titles in his coaching career

– Swam at Kentucky from 1967-69, and graduated in 1971 with a B.A. in education

– He and his wife (Joke) have two daughters (Tatum and Leigh)

MINTENKO Bio

HOMETOWN: Elkhart, Ind.

COACHES: University of Southern California and Trojan Swim Club

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS:

– Was one of the world’s top freestyle swimmers, winning gold medals as a U.S. team captain at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games

– Earned Olympic gold on the 4x200m freestyle relay in both 2000 and 2004 and silver swimming prelims of the 4x100m free relay in 2004

– Won 11 U.S. National titles, including seven in the 200m free, two in the 400m free and one in the 100m free and 200m back

– Competed at the University of Southern California from 1996-99, winning five NCAA titles, including three in the 500y free and two in the 200y back

– Was a 21-time All-American, serving as a team captain at the University of Southern California as a junior and senior

– Still holds the American record in the 200m free (lcm), and was a former world record holder in the 200m and 400m free (scm)

INTERNATIONAL MEDALS:

Olympic Games
2004: 1st, 800m FRp; 2nd, 400m FRp
2000: 1st, 800m FR
World Championships
2003: 1st, 400m FR; 1st, 800m FR (AR; also AR leadoff); 2nd, 400m MR
2001: injured; did not compete
1998: 2nd, 800m FR
Pan Pacific Championships
2002: 1st, 200m free; 2nd, 400m free; 2nd, 400m FR; 1st, 800m FR (CR)
1999: 2nd, 200m free; 2nd, 400m free; 3rd, 200m back; 1st, 400m FR; 1st, 800m FR (AR)
1997: 1st, 800m FR
Short Course World Championships
2004: 1st, 400m FR (AR); 1st, 800m FR (USO); 2nd, 200m free
2002: 1st, 200m free (WR); 1st, 200m back; 2nd, 800m FR (AR); 2nd, 400m MR (AR)
2000: 1st, 400m free (AR); 3rd, 200m back; 2nd, 800m FR (AR); 2nd, 400m MR (AR)
Goodwill Games
2001: 2nd team; 1st, 200m free; 2nd, 200m back; 3rd, 400m FR

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

– Was hired as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California in July 2005

– Volunteer assistant coach at the University of Southern California from 2001-04 while training under Schubert with the Trojan Swim Club

OTHER:

– Retired after the 2004 Short Course World Championships, which were held in her home state of Indiana

– Was inducted into the Indiana Swimming Hall of Fame at the 2003 U.S. Spring Nationals, going on to win her ninth U.S. National title that night

– Graduated from the University of Southern California in 1999 with a degree in communications and minor in business

– Married Canadian Olympic swimmer Mike Mintenko on May 7, 2005

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