{"id":604189,"date":"2025-02-04T11:45:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T18:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=604189"},"modified":"2025-02-04T12:24:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T19:24:06","slug":"ncaa-swimming-future-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/ncaa-swimming-future-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Q&A with ESPN: Is NCAA Swimming Ready for Its Next Wave?"},"content":{"rendered":"

NCAA Swimming Has a Chance to Emerge From Turbulent Waters in Stronger Position<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Cal

Rose is All Smiles<\/p><\/div>\n

BERKELEY, Calif.<\/strong> \u2014 The sky hung heavy with gray clouds over Spieker Aquatics Complex, a fitting backdrop for the Cal Men\u2019s Swimming Senior Day<\/strong>, in which the Golden Bears hosted Stanford in the storied Big Splash<\/em>. While the weather hinted at turbulence above, a more pressing conversation was brewing on deck.<\/p>\n

ESPN+ Broadcaster Billy Miller<\/strong> sat down with Swimming World Publisher\/CEO Jack Hallahan, a Villanova and NYAC Swimming alum with a sports publishing background at Sports Illustrated<\/em> and Men\u2019s Health<\/em>. Their discussion explored the effects of NIL and conference re-alignments on team rosters, changes brought on by the transfer portal, evolving fan engagement, and the pros and cons of international athletes in the NCAA.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe NCAA has always been the backbone of USA Olympic swimming,\u201d Hallahan began, reflecting on how the collegiate system has historically fueled America\u2019s Olympic dominance. \u201cBut with NIL, transfers midseason, and potential roster cuts, we\u2019re at a crossroads. The question is, how do we not just survive this shift\u2014but grow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Lucas Henveaux flashes “W” after pool record 1650 Free<\/p><\/div>\n

Roster turnover, once an offseason storyline, now unfolds during the campaign, disrupting team chemistry and long-term development plans. Transfers and conference re-alignment have created an evolving landscape, offering athletes newfound autonomy while coaches face uncertainty. These new rules of engagement will challenge how USA Swimming approaches team development and structure. Highlighting the stark contrast with international systems, Hallahan stated:
\n\u201cLook at Australia<\/a><\/strong>\u2014if you\u2019re an Olympic hopeful there, you\u2019re likely centralized to (the Gold Coast) or (Brisbane). You\u2019re with the national program (of sorts) for four years. In the U.S., we rely on talented NCAA coaches like Bob Bowman, Anthony Nesty, <\/strong>and Dave Durden<\/strong> developing athletes across 3,000 miles in diverse programs. Is this better being centralized like Australia, China, Great Britain?<\/p>\n

This is a question for USA Swimming’s soon-to-be-announced new leadership to contemplate. NCAA swimming’s strength lies in its diversity and innovation. Different coaching styles, training environments, and competition levels. Having international swimmers in your program shows each swimmer where the bar is set. As Cal coach and Hall of Famer David Marsh<\/strong> often remarks, “iron sharpens iron.” To maintain that edge, we need stronger alignment with USA Swimming and a clearer vision for how collegiate programs fit into the national pipeline.”<\/p>\n

The Entertainment Factor<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

“Here’s the good news: Swimming has been there. The ISL brought energy\u2014light shows, DJs, excitement. The idea was spot on,\u201d said Hallahan. \u201cWe just need to activate new ideas to spark interest. Nebraska Volleyball drew 92,000 fans for a women\u2019s match. Swimming, diving, or water polo do that! We did it for Olympic Trials with a pool on the Colts’ 50-yard line\u201425,000 fans showed up each night. The key is creating experiences<\/em>, not just competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kyle Sockwell,<\/strong> with his Blue Jean Races<\/a><\/strong>,<\/span> and events like Akron-Duquesne\u2019s Mystery Meet<\/em><\/a><\/strong>\u2014where swimmers don\u2019t know their event until moments before racing\u2014new formats can generate thrilling, high-energy environments. \u201cIt\u2019s more than fast times and pool records,\u201d Hallahan said. \u201cMake swim meets fun, make them memorable\u2014or interactive…that\u2019s how you grow a fan base.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s pushing bold ideas: live relays or diving during college football halftimes, pop-up pools in places like Times Square or Wrigley Field, even outdoor meets before MLB or WNBA games. But it\u2019s more than a swimming spectacle\u2014it\u2019s about stakes. \u201cFans love high stakes! Imagine if Cal vs. Stanford\u2019s Big Splash impacted NCAA seeding. Give every race meaning, and people will really get into it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just about the race\u2014it\u2019s about the surprise,\u201d Hallahan noted. “Take the Mystery Meet<\/em> <\/span><\/strong><\/a>between Akron and Duquesne, where swimmers don\u2019t know what event they\u2019re racing until moments before stepping onto the blocks. This unique format pushes athletes to adapt on the fly, adding suspense for both competitors and spectators. In real time! Each race creates an electric atmosphere. Same can be done for diving or water polo. Experiment. Innovate. Bring new energy and attract new fans.”<\/p>\n

The International Influence: A Double-Edged Sword?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

As swimmers from around the world prepared to race, Miller posed a critical question: \u201cAre we giving away medals by training the world\u2019s best right here in the NCAA? Take Cal Freshman Yamato Okadome who dedicated his training to this program in hopes of achieving global success for Japan?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Hallahan didn\u2019t hesitate. \u201cNo. That\u2019s a false narrative. International athletes make U.S. swimmers better. Period. Sweden’s Bjorn Seeliger<\/strong>, Belgium’s Lucas Henveaux, Yamato Okadome<\/strong>\u2014they\u2019re not taking spots; they\u2019re raising the bar. When you race against the best, you become<\/em> the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

He emphasized that international diversity isn\u2019t diluting American dominance; it\u2019s enhancing it. \u201cFast swimming doesn\u2019t happen in a vacuum. It thrives in competitive ecosystems. The fact that the NCAA attracts top talent globally is a strength<\/em>, not a weakness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Cal Freshman Yamato Okadome<\/strong> vs Stanford’s Ron Polonsky<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Miller added: \u201cThat’s true! We saw it last year\u2014ASU came into a rainy dual meet at Cal and together these squads broke 13 pool records. Thirteen. That\u2019s not a fluke. This happens when you bring the best athletes together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Path Forward: LA 2028 and Beyond<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cBetween now and LA28, USA Swimming<\/strong> will have new leadership. A new CEO, a new National Team Director\u2014with a big agenda,\u201d Hallahan said. \u201cThe Olympics<\/strong> on home soil is a rare opportunity to redefine our sport\u2019s trajectory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Senior Destin Lasco’s<\/strong> Happy Place<\/p><\/div>\n

He envisions a future where NCAA swimming isn\u2019t just an Olympics feeder system but a major entertainment product in its own right. \u201cESPN+<\/strong> is onto something by broadcasting these meets. Imagine if dual meets were broadcast like college basketball, with dedicated commentators, live stats and scoring, even real-time betting lines. Why not? The talent is there. The excitement is there. We just need to package it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hallahan also stressed the importance of advocacy. \u201cWhat Executive Director Samantha Barany<\/strong> and the College Swimming Coaches Association are doing\u2014lobbying on Capitol Hill, engaging with athletic directors\u2014is crucial.\u00a0 She is fighting against new NCAA rules that could limit the number of swimmers on college teams, making it harder for young athletes to compete. We need to protect and expand collegiate programs, not just for medals but for the health of the sport.”<\/p>\n

Final Lap<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

With 400 free relays underway, the energy around the pool surged\u2014cheers echoing, swimmers lining the deck, and coaches shouting splits. Proud families gathered to send their seniors off with a bang! It was a reminder of what makes swimming special: a pure, raw, unfiltered pursuit of excellence.<\/p>\n

One thing was clear as we celebrated medalists and finalists from the Paris Games and the World Championships in Budapest at a rainy dual meet in Berkeley, California: NCAA swimming is the Olympic proving ground, where the best of the best rise to the surface.\u201cLA 2028<\/strong> isn\u2019t just another Olympics,\u201d Hallahan concluded. \u201cIt\u2019s a chance to redefine who we are as a sport. The turbulence is real\u2014but so is the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NCAA is evolving. The global landscape is shifting. The next generation of athletes is watching.<\/p>\n

Quiet, please…Swimmers…Step Up…<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"\"

Final Lap at Spieker for Jack Alexy<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

\"Senior

Destin Lasco laughs at Bjorn Seeliger comment<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Jack

Team Alexy<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Cal’s\u00a0Dave Durden<\/strong> having a “Senior” moment<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NCAA Swimming Has a Chance to Emerge From Turbulent Waters in Stronger Position BERKELEY, Calif. \u2014 The sky hung heavy with gray clouds over Spieker Aquatics Complex, a fitting backdrop<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59119,"featured_media":604362,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,6,17,7],"tags":[49364,61683,62493,5007,176,36297,36117,25659,58813,691,70001,125705,251,123795,102,25269,327,87,142,131367,62,2690],"class_list":["post-604189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-college","category-commentary","category-usa","tag-acc-swimming","tag-agon-high-school-recruits-page","tag-big-ten-swimming","tag-cal","tag-california","tag-college-swimming","tag-cscaa","tag-dave-durden","tag-dave-durden-cal","tag-espn","tag-jack-alexy","tag-la28","tag-ncaa","tag-nil","tag-olympics","tag-ryan-murphy","tag-stanford","tag-swimmer","tag-swimming","tag-transfer-portal","tag-united-states","tag-usa-swimming"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nQ&A with ESPN: Is NCAA Swimming Ready for Its Next Wave<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Swimming World explores bold ideas for transforming swimming - 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