American University Removes Interim Tag from Garland Bartlett as Head Coach

Photo Courtesy: American University Athletics

American University Removes Interim Tag from Garland Bartlett as Head Coach

Garland Bartlett, who has served as the interim head coach of American University’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, has been hired on a permanent basis.

Bartlett has been with the program since 2016 as an interim. She was promoted to interim head coach in April when coach Mark Davin announced he would leave the university after 25 years at the helm.

Bartlett has worked with the Eagles program for five years, specializing in the distance freestyle group. She led the recruiting efforts that yielded the program’s largest freshman class in 2020-21, including triple school-record holder Mimi Watts. Liam Riebling was the first American swimmer to win university’s Top Male Senior Student-Athlete award since 2004.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be named the next head coach of the American University men’s and women’s swimming and diving program,” Bartlett said in a university press release. “I am so excited for the opportunity to continue working with the student-athletes on the team and help them achieve their goals both in and out of the pool. As a team, I am confident we will continue our upward trajectory and keep improving in the Patriot League and on the national level. I would like to thank Dr. Billy Walker, Andrew Smith and the entire search committee for their confidence in me and selecting me to lead this wonderful program. Go Eagles!”

Bartlett swam at Franklin & Marshall College, a distance specialist who won six Centennial Conference Championships medals in the pool for the Diplomats. Bartlett still holds a top-10 time in the 1,650 in F&M history.

She graduated in 2012 before embarking on her coaching career. Bartlett was an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Trinity College for two years, an assistant for the College of New Jersey for one year and a season at Middlebury College, where she helped four swimmers qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships.

“I am excited to announce Garland Bartlett as our newest head coach,” Director of Athletics & Recreation Dr. Billy Walker said. “Her tremendous care for our current student-athletes as well as her boundless enthusiasm for their academic, athletic and personal success ensures great things for the program moving forward.”

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