Tennessee Volunteers swimming and diving
| Tennessee Volunteers | |
 |
|
| Team information | |
| Conference | Southeastern Conference |
| Location | Knoxville, TN |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Head coach | Matt Kredich |
| Home pool | Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center |
| Titles | |
| Men's NCAA | 1978 |
| Men's SEC | 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1989, 1996 |
The Tennessee Volunteers swimming and diving program represents the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers are currently coached by Matt Kredich.[1] The Vols host their swim meets in the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center which was newly built in 2008.[2] The Vols compete in the SEC where they have won 10 SEC team titles, 151 individual titles and 44 relay crowns. Over the past 75 years of competition the Vols have won 34 individual NCAA titles and 1 NCAA national title. The Vols have also featured 782 All-Time All-America Selections up until 2009.
Contents
Decade of dominance
When Ray Bussard was hired in 1968 as head coach for the Vols swimming & diving team the team hadn't competed at the NCAA level since 1959 and had not ever won a team SEC championship. In only his second year as head coach Bussard won the school's first SEC title for men's swimming & diving and would go on to compete in the NCAA tournament. Throughout the 1970s Tennessee owned the 400-freestyle relay at the SEC Championships winning it for ten straight years. During that ten year span Tennessee earned five straight 800-freestyle relay titles and won the 400 medley crown nine out of 11 times. In 1978 Bussard would accomplish the biggest goal for any team by winning the 1978 NCAA championship.[3] At the start of the championship meet the Vols jumped out to a 24-point lead on the first day of competition and would continue on winning the title. The title was not only a first for a team from the Southeastern Conference but also a first for any team in the south. When Bussard retired in 1988 he finished with a 252-20 overall record and a .926 winning percentage making him the winningest swimming and diving coach in Tennessee history. He left the school having earned NCAA Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1978, as well as SEC Coach of the Year in 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1978. In 2008 Bussard was inducted in the American Swimming Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.[4]
Tennessee Volunteers Olympians
The University of Tennessee has had 34 Olympians represent Tennessee's swimming and diving program since the 1970s. Since that time five have earned medals including three individual gold medalists and four gold medals earned as Olympic team. The following list include all of the former and current Olympic participants.
- Octavio Alesi, Venezuelan team member at 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Andrew Bree, Irish team member at 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Ray Brown, Canadian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- Ricardo Busquets, Puerto Rican team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, 2000 Sydney Olympics, and 2004 Athens Olympics
- Gabi Chereches, Romanian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and 2000 Sydney Olympics
- JR deSouza, Brazilian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- David Edgar, American gold medalist at 1972 Munich Olympics
- Lars Jorgensen, American team member at 1988 Seoul Olympics
- Jeremy Linn, American gold medalist and silver medalist at 1996 Atlanta Olympics
- Paul Machado, Brazilian team member at 2004 Athens Olympics
- Geri Mewett, Bermudian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- Jonas Persson, Sweden team member at 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Tripp Schwenk, American gold medalist and silver medalist at 1996 Atlanta Olympics
- Kyle Smerdon, Canadian team member at 2000 Sydney Olympics
- Evan Stewart, Zimbabwian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and 2000 Sydney Olympics
- Melvin Stewart, American gold medalist and bronze medalist at 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- Jevon Tarantino, American team member at 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Sal Vasallo, Puerto Rican team member at 1988 Seoul Olympics
- Matt Vogel, American gold medalist at 1976 Montreal Olympics
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-swim/mtt/trembley_john00.html
- ↑ http://www.jonesaquaticcenter.com/
- ↑ http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-swim/archive/swim-dive-natl-champs.html
- ↑ http://www.swimmingcoach.org/hof/coaches/halloffamemenu.html
- ↑ http://www.utsports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/tenn/sports/m-swim/auto_pdf/2010swimguide
