Tanner Barton Named Head Coach of Bowling Green

Photo Courtesy: Kelly Lennon

Tanner Barton Named Head Coach of Bowling Green

Tanner Barton has been named the head swimming and diving head coach of Bowling Green, the university announced this week.

Barton spent the last four seasons as Division III John Carroll University in Cleveland. He’s the 11th head coach in Falcon swimming and diving history.

“Upon coming to campus, I quickly learned how BGSU is at the heart of this city,” Barton said in a university statement. “As a relational leader, I am eager to become a member of the community and build meaningful partnerships. I want to thank President Rogers, Derek van der Merwe, Stacy Kosciak and Chet Hesson for entrusting me to lead the women’s swimming and diving team. With steadfast commitment to bettering ourselves in and out of the pool, I am confident the current and all future Falcons will proudly represent BGSU. I am extremely excited to begin, and the future is bright!”

Barton was a perfect 8-for-8 at JCU in conference titles, leading the men’s and women’s to four Ohio Athletic Conference titles each. The men in 2022 and women in 2023 set OAC records for most points scored at a championship meet, and his coaching staff was recognized as the conference’s best in each of his four years.

He produced 21 All-Americans and 11 Scholar All-Americans. His John Carroll swimmers won 104 conference titles (68 individual, 36 relay).

Neither the men or women scored at NCAAs this year, but the JCU men’s team was 15th in 2023 and 13th in 2022.

“Tanner Barton is high-energy, high-impact, and a transformative leader,” athletic director Derek van der Merwe said. “He has been thrust into leadership roles from his time as a student-athlete in the Mid-American Conference to coaching positions over the years. In each role, he has significantly and positively impacted the trajectory of the programs and distinguished himself as a change agent. I am excited to partner with him in building a swim and dive program that has consistent success and evolving BGSU’s commitment to swim and dive in the region. His contagious energy and passion will make BGSU Athletics better every day.”

Barton swam at Ball State, a two-year team captain who finaled at the MAC Championships all four years. Then native of Dublin, Ohio, served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2017-18, then spent a year as an assistant at Cleveland state and one as the head coach at Division III Anderson University in Indiana.

Bowling Green parted ways with coach Rickey Perkins after the season ended last month.

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