Bill Wadley Named Executive Director of American Swim Coaches Association

Bill Wadley; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) announced that longtime NCAA swim coach Bill Wadley will become the next Executive Director for the 65-year old organization.

Effective October 15th, 2020, Wadley will succeed Steve Roush who served in the same role for the past 10 months.

“Bill is the consummate professional and is the Coach’s Coach. He’s a friend to everyone he meets, and he has a perpetual smile that puts anyone at ease the moment you meet him. His business acumen is off the charts, and he has already begun spearheading some initiatives that ASCA members should see immediate benefit from in terms of relevancy, content, and value! We’re very excited and optimistic for the future of ASCA.” – Mike Koleber, Board President, American Swim Coaches Association.

Wadley told Swimming World that he is elated, thrilled, and honored to be named Executive Director for ASCA.

“ASCA gave me my first real job when I saw a job posting on an ASCA bulletin board back in 1980 at a World ASCA Clinic in New Orleans. I desperately needed a real job that offered insurance since I was a new father who had a newborn with a heart condition. ASCA pointed me in the right direction and really saved my family and child when I took a position as a YMCA coach. I went on to coach 33 years at the collegiate level. ASCA and the coaches have been a part of family ever since. Now, I really want to give back and help coaches help athletes. That is what we do at ASCA.” – Bill Wadley

Last month, ASCA announced the departure of Chief Executive Officer Steve Roush to pursue other personal interests. At the time, Koleber commented that, “Steve has done a tremendous job in these challenging and uncertain times of 2020. He has pledged his ongoing support to the organization and will be a crucial resource for incoming administration in continuing to forge the forward path of the ASCA.”

Wadley told Swimming World that the first thing he did was to tell Roush that he wanted to hire him as a Project Manager and Consultant for ASCA. “Steve still has so much to offer the organization that we could not let him go.”

Bill Wadley coached for 33 years in the Big Ten, including the last 28 as the men’s swimming and diving coach at Ohio State after beginning his career at Michigan State (2 years) and University of Iowa (3 years). Wadley retired at the end of the 2016-17 season.

He coached 16 Olympians and 30 conference champions with the Buckeyes, leading Ohio State’s men’s team to regular top-four league finishes and top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships. He compiled a 253-42 record in dual meets and never had a losing season. He was voted the 2010 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

The Austin Peay grad and native of Rockford, Ill., cut his teeth as an assistant to Don Gambril at the University of Alabama. He’s also served as technical swimming chairman to the International University Sports Federation (FISU), which has a hand in staging the World University Games, and been a member of the board of USA Swimming and the NCAA’s peer mentoring committee.

The current ASCA Board of Directors is comprised of:

Mike Koleber, President
Matt Kredich, Executive Committee
Mark Schubert, Executive Committee
Dave Gibson
Ken Heis
Jeff Julian
Jimmy Tierney
Dave Salo
David Marsh
Chad Onken
Mitch Dalton
Braden Holloway
Mike Murray
Megan Oesting
Doug Wharam

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Jim Lotton

3 years ago

Congratulations Bill Wadley

Ellen Boeseneilers Pidde

3 years ago

Awesome. Congrats

Frank Keefe

3 years ago

Congrats on coming out of retirement!

Mariusz Podkoscielny

3 years ago

Congrats Bill!!

Ramon Cacho

3 years ago

Amanda Cacho Parrilla

Justin Rothwell

3 years ago

Great choice

Thomas A. Small

3 years ago

Congratulations

James McCombs

3 years ago

Congratulations

Anonymous

3 years ago

Awesome Coach

Steve Betts

3 years ago

Attaway Wad Man! Let’s go Peay!

Trish

3 years ago

Congratulations, Bill! They are lucky to have you!

Jennifer Parks

3 years ago

Bravo, Bill! So proud of you, and know you’ll do great job! L, jp