Olympic-size selfie: David Marsh takes a group shot. Photo: Jan Black Photography
Sept. 15. SwimMAC CEO and Director of Coaching David Marsh will be the head coach of the women’s team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The Rio Games will be Marsh’s first as a head coach, although he served as a men’s team assistant in the 1996, 2000, and 2012 Olympic Games. Bob Bowman of Arizona State University, formerly with North Baltimore Aquatic Club, was selected as the head coach of the men’s team.
“This is a great honor and a tremendous responsibility,” said Marsh. “I look forward to the challenge of leading Team USA’s women into the 2016 Games and representing our country and our sport to the best of our ability.”
Marsh was recently feted at a party at Port City Club in Cornelius.
Marsh is a world-renowned athlete and coach. He is CEO and director of coaching for SwimMAC Carolina, a position he has held since 2007. For 17 years he was the head coach at Auburn University, which amassed an unprecedented 12 NCAA Championships.
At SwimMAC, Marsh has continued his success with the establishment of Team Elite, a training group for post-collegiate, professional and Olympic-hopeful athletes that attracts top swimmers from around the world.
The group currently includes six former U.S. Olympians, including Ryan Lochte, Cullen Jones, Tyler Clary, Cammile Adams, Micah Lawrence, and Jimmy Feigen.
Team Elite is integrated with SwimMAC’s highly competitive age group team that is widely regarded as one of the best in the country.
The Unites States Olympic Swimming Team will be determined at the U.S. Olympic Trials early next summer in Omaha, Neb. SwimMAC Carolina has already qualified 26 athletes to compete for a spot on the 2016 Olympic Team.
SwimMAC Carolina is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides swimming lessons to thousands of children in the Charlotte area, develops more than 850 age group swimmers on its competitive team, trains Olympic-caliber professional swimmers in its Team Elite program, and offers a variety of aquatic fitness programs for swimmers of all ages.
