{"id":569238,"date":"2023-09-06T11:56:34","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T18:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=569238"},"modified":"2023-09-06T11:56:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T18:56:34","slug":"mike-bottom-cscaa-director-samantha-barany-to-speak-on-behalf-of-michigan-state-swimming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/mike-bottom-cscaa-director-samantha-barany-to-speak-on-behalf-of-michigan-state-swimming\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Bottom, CSCAA Director Samantha Barany to Speak on Behalf of Michigan State Swimming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mike Bottom, CSCAA Director Samantha Barany to Speak on Behalf of Michigan State Swimming<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former University of Michigan coach Mike Bottom<\/strong> and CSCAA executive director Samantha Barany<\/strong> will address the Michigan State Board of Trustees this week in support of that school\u2019s campaign to reinstate varsity swimming and diving.<\/p>\n

Bottom and Barany will cut short their stay at the ASCA World Clinic this week to travel to East Lansing to advocate for Battle for Spartan Swim and Dive<\/a>. The board and interim university president Teresa Woodruff<\/strong> are meeting Friday.<\/p>\n

Bottom spent the last 15 years leading Michigan, the Spartans\u2019 rival in the pool but a supporter in their battle to reinstate varsity swimming since being cut at the end of the 2020-21 season. Bottom\u2019s Wolverines were one of many schools to sign on to a scheduling pledge to add Michigan State upon reinstatement, and he\u2019s written to potential donors on BSSD\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n

Barany, a long-time swim coach and the former associate commissioner of the Colonial Athletic Association for women\u2019s basketball and Olympic sports, has likewise harnessed her organization\u2019s resources to support BSSD.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe advocacy of Bottom and Barany underscores the immense potential of a renewed MSU Swim and Dive program,\u201d Battle for Spartan Swim Dive wrote in a press release. \u201cWith their expertise and counsel in areas such as selecting coaches, recruiting talent, and creating successful systems, Michigan State has the opportunity for a rapid return as B1G and NCAA leader.\u201d<\/p>\n

BSSD is approaching its established fundraising target of $6.5 million to cover five years of operating costs. It has also made headway in identifying donors for the $20 million required to upgrade the university\u2019s aquatic facilities. The campaign has a more receptive audience in a new administration, after the athletic director and university president that presided over the cuts both left their post.<\/p>\n

Additional Michigan State Reading<\/h3>\n