Flash! Bill Byrne Strikes Again: Texas Aggie Men’s Coach Mel Nash Is Forced to Resign

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, June 29. ONE of America's premier college men's swimming coaches will be looking for a job come September.

Mel Nash, coach of the Texas A&M Aggies the past 25 years, was forced to resign yesterday by Aggie Athletic Director Bill Byrne. At the same time, longtime Aggie track coach Ted Nelson retired suddenly.

Byrne, of course, is infamous in swimming circles for having killed the men's programs in his two previous stints as A.D.: first at Oregon, then at Nebraska.

In the case of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, in April, 2001 Byrne claimed the department did not have the approximately $400,000/year needed to run the program — one percent of the department's overall budget. When Swiminfo revealed that Byrne had already struck a deal with All-Tel Corp. involving a multi-million dollar gift to the department, he denied it.

As SwimInfo predicted, the announcement of the gift was delayed until August and turned out to be precisely what SwimInfo reported in April.

Shortly thereafter, Byrne announced a record $1.3 million in bonuses for some of the department's coaches and himself.

A Texas A&M press release quoted Byrne as saying: "I want to thank Coach Nelson and Coach Nash for their many years of dedicated service to our student-athletes and Texas A&M University. They have represented our department and University with class and integrity.”

The release indicated that A.D. Byrne and Coach Nash came to a mutually agreed upon decision for Nash’s resignation. Nash, who finished his 25th season in 2004, was A&M’s longest tenured head coach. During his 25 seasons, Nash guided the Aggies to 11 top 25 national finishes, including nine straight. In five of the last six years, the Aggie swimmers have finished in 16th, 15th, 12th, 11th and 10th place at NCAAs.

The men's swim program has been A&M's highest-ranked sport and biggest contributor of points to the Sears cup, which selects the universities with the strongest all-around intercollegiate athletic program.

Nash also designed the Aggies' world-class natatorium.

In addition, the A&M swimmers have consistently been named an Academic All-American team.

“I regretfully step down as the swim coach at Texas A&M,” Nash said. “I am proud of what our team has accomplished such as finishing in the top 20 six of the last seven years. I am proud of my players’ performance in the classroom.”

Nash also expressed pleasure that his long-time assistant Jay Holmes will be considered when the nation-wide search gets underway. Holmes will serve as interim swim coach.

It does not appear at this time that Byrne intends to kill off the men's program. More likely he wants a coach in place who is his man.

Reportedly, Byrne also said he wants to improve the men's program and, specifically, build a team that can beat intra-state rival Texas. “The mission of Texas A&M athletics is building champions. Our goal will be to hire new head coaches in track and field and men’s swimming who can lead us to Big 12 and even national championships."

He might think of adding football to that list. Last season, the Aggie football team was dumped by Texas 46-15 and routed by rival Oklahoma, 77-0.

Is this the beginning of the end to another NCAA men's swimming program? Judge for yourself… Look for a pattern… Here are some stories of the legacy left by Athletic Director Bill Byrne while at Nebraska:

Nebraska Denies Plan to Cut Men’s Swimming

Nebraska Cuts Men’s Swimming

Letter To Nebraska President

Nebraska Announces 8 Million Gift to Athletic Department After Denials

Nebraska AD Covered Up Gift to Eliminate Swimming

Nebraska Pays Record Bonus to AD

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