Courtesy: GWU Sports
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Michael Southward, who spent the 2022-2023 season as head coach at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida, has been named an assistant swimming coach at Gardner-Webb, head coach Mike Blum announced Tuesday.
“We are excited to have Michael here with us at Gardner-Webb!” said Blum. “His energy and excitement to work with the athletes is contagious and we are excited to have him on deck for the 2023-2024 season and beyond. Southward will be an excellent addition to our staff!”
Southward took over St. Leo’s program in May of 2022 after completing the previous season as interim head coach. Under Southward’s tutelage, nine St. Leo swimmers earned All-America honors at the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships.
In total, Southward spent two seasons at his alma mater, starting as a graduate assistant coach in the fall of 2021.
Prior to his coaching career, Southward swam at Saint Leo from 2016-2020, serving as a team captain in both his junior and senior seasons. He was a member of the school record-holding 400-freestyle relay team which posted a mark of 2:57.06 at the 2018 national championships. Southward earned All-America honors at that meet and was also part of the 200-freestyle relay team that finished 11th nationally.
Additionally, Southward spent his summers as a coach in Pennsylvania developing youth swimmers at the Woodridge Swim Club in 2018 and 2019.
Southward graduated from Saint Leo in May of 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in marketing.
Congrats, Shaggy!
Yeah Shaggy!
Hopefully he can reign in the car thief and drinking on the team. Blum certainly can’t.
Bro stop using my name…