Brad Isham Named Head Coach of Cincinnati Marlins

Just a few short months after head coach and CEO Chris Wolford announced his resignation, the Cincinnati Marlins have found a new head coach in Brad Isham.

A long-time staple in the Cincinnati coaching scene, Isham has been the head coach of the Countryside YCMA Torpedoes since the fall of 2001. Under his tutelage the Torpedoes have won multiple league championships and have finished top five in the nation several times. Isham has coached numerous YMCA-National and high school state champions.

About the Marlins

The Cincinnati Marlins were founded in 1961. 89 girls were selected for the team the first year, with 77 boys joining the following year. Keating Natatorium was built in 1969. Keating is a 50-meter indoor facility with seating for approximately 1000. It contains a full-service concession area, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a weight room, hospitality room, coach’s offices, and a meet room. The pool can be converted to two 25-yard competition pools through the use of a bulkhead. The Marlins and Keating Natatorium host approximately 20 swimming competitions a year. The parents and volunteers have years of experience and are known for hosting quality competitions.

The Marlins have placed 18 swimmers on the U.S. Olympic Team since 1968. Team members have broken numerous National and World Records. In 1980 the team captured the United States National Championship. That year, six Marlins’ swimmers were named to the U.S. Olympic team, more than from any other team. Sadly, those six swimmers were unable to compete in the Moscow Olympics because of our nation’s boycott of the games.

The Marlins have also developed some of America’s greatest coaches. Six former Marlins coaches have been named to Olympic Coaching Staffs. Since 1971, the Marlins have won over 30 Summer & Winter State Championship. The team has been named Junior National Team Champions in 1983, 84, 97, 98, 99, and 2000. In 2005, the Men’s team placed first, the combined team second. Swimming World Magazine named the Cincinnati Marlins 1999’s Best Age-Group Team in America. In 2006 and 2007, the Marlins were designated as a Gold Medal Club by USA Swimming (our governing body). This distinction is given to only the top 16 teams in the nation based not only on swimming performance, but the organization’s structure, professionalism, and contribution to the sport of swimming.

Marlin Swimming Success By The Numbers

18 Olympic Swimmers
1980 National Team Champions
23 Olympic Medals
15 World Records
19 American Records
60 National Champions
6 American Swimmers of the Year

Notable alumni

The Marlins have been home to many accomplished swimmers, including 25 Olympic qualifiers. Together, they have won 23 Olympic medals.

Bob Alsfelder – 1972 Olympic Trials bronze medalist, NCAA bronze medalist, & 3-time HS All-American
Bill Barrett – Former World and American record holder; 1979 & 1980 National Champion; 1980 American Swimmer of the Year
Lisa Buese – silver medalist at the 1979 Pan American Games
Kim Carlisle – gold medalist at the 1980 AIAW Championship; silver medalist at 1979 National Championships; silver medalist at 1980 National Championships
Deena Deardurff – gold medalist at the 1972 Summer Olympics and silver medalist at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships
Nate Dusing – silver medalist at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics and bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics
Stephanie Elkins – gold medalist at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships and 1979 Pan American Games
Jerry Frentsos – gold medalist at the 1987 Pan American Games
Gary Hall, Sr. – silver medalist at the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Summer Olympics and bronze medalist at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics
Greg Higginson – 12x All-American; 2x bronze medalist at the 1981 National Championships; 2x bronze medalist at the 1981 NCAA Championships
Paul Hove – bronze medalist at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships
Joe Hudepohl – gold medalist at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics
Diane Johannigman – Former World and American record holder; 1979 100 Fly National Champion; 1978, 1979-80 AIAW fly champion
Alice Jones – former World and American record holder
Charles Keating, Jr. – 1946 NCAA swimming champion
Jenny Kemp – gold medalist at the 1972 Olympic Games; former World and American record holder
Dan Ketchum – gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics
Mary T. Meagher – gold medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and bronze medalist at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics
Glenn Mills – qulaified for 1980 Olympic Games, national high school record holder in 100 breaststroke, NCAA Champion
Betsy Mitchell – silver medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics
Erin Phenix – gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics and silver medalist at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships
Kim Rhodenbaugh – silver medalist at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships and bronze medalist at the 1983 Pan American Games
Bill Schulte – 3x HS All-American; national high school record holder in 100 back; 1973 National Championship silver medalist
Dave Wilson – gold medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics

Notable Historical staff

Will Keller
Paul Bergen
Gary Hall Sr.
Charlie Hickcox
Skip Kenney
Jay Fitzgerald
Denny Pursley
Frank Busch
Bob Bowman
Chuck Warner
Jack Simon
Ken Stoppkotte
Chris Wolford

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Jenny kemp

7 years ago

Don’t forget Jenny Kemp — Gold Medalist 1972 Munich Games; Bronze medalist 1975 Pan American Games.

C.J. Rushman

7 years ago

That is a good hire.