Championship winning coaches

[Dionysus]

Looking at the consistent success of the UT Swimming & Diving teams, multiple conference and national championships (and possibly closing in on their 12th National Championship today), it made me wonder: what’s the secret—or is there a secret at all? Maybe it’s just the fundamentals of good recruiting, hard work, discipline, athlete development, etc. But this program isn’t just successful, it is dominant.

If I were a coach at UT I think one of the first things I would want to do is visit with coach Reese and ask him: how do you do it? Different sports, apples and oranges, I know, but is there something else that could apply universally to cultivate consistent success at the highest level?

How do the great ones get that way, and stay there?

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

How many schools have swim and dive programs?
Of those, how many commit the equivalent level of resources as UT to the programs?

Answer: it is a very small handful of schools, and those are the same small handful that win Championships.

 

[Dionysus]

Answer: it is a very small handful of schools, and those are the same small handful that win Championships.

Well I was hoping for some ninja-magick-yogi possibility but maybe that’s all it is.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

When I think of strong NCAA swim programs, I think of 5.
Texas
Auburn
Florida
Stanford
USC

When the high level competition is concentrated in that small a number of schools, winning the title (while not easy, by any means) is a different proposition than it is in football, where there are 30 to 50 schools that devote extraordinary levels of resources to their programs.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

According to this there at least 50 schools ranked in mens division 1 swimming.

http://www.collegesw

Also 13 schools have won the title since 1937 with Texas and Michigan tied with 12 each.

I wouldnt say its fair to belittle the accomplishments of Eddie Reese and this team. The competition is fierce among the top 10 schools and to say that because there arent 100 D1 programs means its not impressive is shallow in my opinion.

 

[Dionysus]

http://www.collegesw

The link is broken. Is this the one you meant to post?

http://www.collegeswimming.com/

 

[2003TexasGrad]

Thats funny. Thought it pasted it properly, but yes thats it.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

Yeah, in re-reading my comments I can see where somebody might think I was diminishing the accomplishment of Coach Reese and the Swim program. I apologize for that because it truly was not my intention. I was simply trying to illustrate the difference between a smaller pool (no pun intended) of top flight competition and the much larger ocean that Charlie and Shaka (for example) have to compete against.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

Yeah, in re-reading my comments I can see where somebody might think I was diminishing the accomplishment of Coach Reese and the Swim program. I apologize for that because it truly was not my intention. I was simply trying to illustrate the difference between a smaller pool (no pun intended) of top flight competition and the much larger ocean that Charlie and Shaka (for example) have to compete against.

For sure. Im just saying that most teams in basketball and football will never be able to compete for a title, especially in football because of how many scholarships there are. Theres only 10 to 20 schools that have any chance at all. Basketball is certainly more chaotic but come tournament time its still a handful of schools that have any real shot.

 

[blonthang]

I recall a story related by Rick Barnes a few years ago regarding Reese.

Seems Reese was at a men's basketball game and noticed something he felt compelled to discuss with Barnes (this was per Barnes). Reese told Barnes that he felt he was overworking his players --- he noticed subtle indications that they were just plain gassed during the game and suggested Barnes back off a little on practices to give them a rest.

Barnes appreciated the tip and did just that and noticed an improvement in the next few games.

Something like that.