University of North Carolina Adds Michael Baric to Coaching Staff

(L-R) Michael Baric & head coach Rich DeSelm - Photo Courtesy: University of North Carolina

Michael Baric, a North Carolina native and graduate of UNCW, has been named an assistant swimming coach at the University of North Carolina. Tar Heel head coach Rich DeSelm announced the hire, effectively immediately, on Friday, October 13.

Baric, who also earned a graduate degree from the University of Florida, becomes the sixth full-time member of Coach DeSelm’s staff, joining diving coach Abel Sanchez as well as assistant swimming coaches Duncan Sherrard, Christy Garth and Sean Quinn.

Baric has served Tar Heel swimming and diving as an administrative and operations assistant since 2016. Prior to that he was a manager for the swimming and diving programs at the University of Florida while pursuing a master of science degree in sport management.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts & Sciences degree in May 2014 from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington which he attended from 2010-14. Baric majored in history and minored in psychology.

He was a member of the Seahawks’ swimming and diving team from 2010-14. He was the captain of the Seahawks’ men’s swimming team from 2012-14 and also served as an intern in the athletic department there in his senior year.

Baric, a native of Raleigh, was a much-decorated swimmer at UNCW. After earning an athletic scholarship to swim in Wilmington, he was named the team’s rookie of the year in 2010-11, awarded to the squad’s top performing freshman. During his time at UNCW, he set school records in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley. He won All-Colonial Athletic Association honors on 11 occasions and was a CAA scholar-athlete award recipient four straight years from 2011-14.

In 2013-14, he won the Seahawk Award for character, leadership and commitment to the swimming team at the University.

From 2011-16, Baric earned valuable experience coaching with club teams in both North Carolina and Florida, working with the Marlins of Raleigh and the Gator Swim Club in Gainesville, Fla.

Baric continued to train after graduating from UNCW. In the process, he earned an invitation to swim in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials after training with Wolfpack Elite Swim Club as a post-graduate in Raleigh, N.C. After attending UF, he moved back to the Triangle in 2016 and began his work with the Tar Heel program as an administrative assistant in the fall of 2016.

Press release courtesy of University of North Carolina.

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