As of the completion of the 2015 World Championships that wrapped up in Kazan, Russia earlier this month, Michael Phelps‘ coach Bob Bowman is officially full-bore in Tempe, Arizona with a selection of his non-collegiate train group, as well as his duties as the new head of the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Beginning Monday, Bowman and his newly-assembled staff (that includes Olympic legend Misty Hyman) will have the full services of Arizona State’s Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex, as repairs and renovations on the main 50 meter pool have been completed, and the pool is expected to be filled on Friday.
“We are very excited about these improvements which will benefit the ASU aquatic sports teams and outside user groups,” Bowman said.
The primary pragmatic function of the repair was to correct the short course yards width distance of the pool, allowing it to be certified as a 25 yard pool when touch pads are in use. Meanwhile, Bowman says the varsity team and his non-collegiate group has been using the adjacent 8-lane, 25-yard course for early-season training.
That non-collegiate group includes the most decorated Olympian in history Michael Phelps, 2012 Olympic gold medalist Allison Schmitt, and U.S. National Teamers Chase Kalisz and Cierra Runge, who are both taking the 2015-2016 NCAA seasons off from other programs to train with Bowman.
The course certification is just scratching the surface of the upgrades that have been completed this summer or are in progress for the complex.
“We are also completely redoing the interior of the lobby area and offices in addition to the new starting blocks and other facility improvements which were made this summer including all new landscaping out front,” Bowman elaborated. “We are also installing a completely new training room for athletic training, recovery and rehab needs.”
The Arizona State women were 7th at last year’s Pac-12 Championship meet, while the men placed 5th. While the team’s 2015-2016 schedule has not been released yet, historically the program has started out with a very tough fall schedule. We also know that the team’s mid-season invite will be the Texas A&M-hosted Art Adamson Invitational from November 19th-21st.
What is the official name of the new club of MP? On the psych sheets of Grand Prix meets for example, what will be mentioned? Is it the same name as the college team? Arizona State Sun Devils?
It will be weird. I’m so used to reading NBAC next to his name for 15 years.
bobo – I talked to coach Bowman about this earlier in the summer, and he said in the near-term, at that time, he expected swimmers to keep representing their home clubs. There is a new club team established out of the Arizona State pool that they’re calling “Pitchfork Aquatics,” so that may ultimately become the club for Bowman’s post-grad group.
Thanks.
Bobo, for 4 years from 04-08, Phelps represented Club Wolverine.
Bobo, he was club wolverine from 2005 to 2008
You’re right Jman. 🙄
Bowman’s coaching in Arizona will be a boost to college swimming as well as club swimming. With Bowman in Phoenix and DeMont in Tucson, it’s an exciting time to be in Arizona and in swimming.