University of Arizona Swimming and Diving Parts Ways With Cory Chitwood, Beth Botsford

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Photo Courtesy:Kara Sekenski

According to an article that appeared on Tuscon.com, University of Arizona head coach Augie Busch has “parted ways” with assistant coaches Cory Chitwood and Beth Botsford.

Both Chitwood and Botsford were All-American swimmers at the University of Arizona. Botsford, who won two Olympic gold medals at the 1996 Olympic Games, was an NCAA Champion in the 200 backstroke for Arizona in 2000. Chitwood was also an NCAA Champion in the 200 back in 2010, 2011, and 2012 and was a 14-time All-American during his time on the Arizona team.

Both former Wildcats swam for Augie’s father Frank Busch, who led the Arizona program from 1989 to 2011. The departures of the two assistants also coincided with Augie Busch being named as part of Team USA’s coaching staff for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Chitwood and Botsford are both still listed as assistant coaches on the Wildcats Athletics page at the time of publication, and the Athletics Department has not released any information related to the reasons for their departure. Swimming World has contacted the department for comment and will continue to update with any further information from the department.

This continues a busy hiring season in the NCAA, with these two departures adding to a large list of vacant coaching positions around the country, including the recent assistant openings with the Cal women’s team and at Indiana University.

Tuscon.com contributed to this report.

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Scott Russell

4 years ago

William Daniell Shelley Russell Daniell