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David Marsh Breaks Down Cal Training Heading into World Trials

2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – MISSION VIEJO

At the Mission Viejo Pro Swim, SwimSwam spoke with Cal assistant coach David Marsh about the past, present, and future. Marsh reflects on Cal’s back-to-back Men’s NCAA championship title season, describes what new assistant Kim Williams has brought to the program so far, and looks ahead to the 2023 World Champ Trials in Indianapolis.

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Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Who is responsible for Abbey Weitzeil’s rebound this season?

Go bears
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

It’s her first year training full time under the best coach in the world dave durden. I think he’s playing a major role

Freebee
1 year ago

I’m sure Marsh in his various ventures, risks, successes, and failures has hurt people (feelings, careers etc)along the way. However, count the national championships and olympians around the world. He’s no doubt one of the best coaches in the history of the sport. Numbers don’t lie! (haters do)

Winter Apple
1 year ago

David Marsh has a David Marsh poster in his bedroom

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Winter Apple
1 year ago

So …. what you are saying:

https://youtu.be/x6hXKx2p3rA

Bobthebuilder
1 year ago

I am also a SD swim dad. David had a run in SD with UCSD and Team elite. It didn’t work out that well overall, but this guy is a true genius on swimming coaching. Nobody can deny he deserved a lot of credit for the success of Cal men’s team in the last two NCAA championships, particularly considering the recruiting classes were not that rosy. Most swimmers outperformed in the big meets. It says a lot about the coaching team.

oxyswim
Reply to  Bobthebuilder
1 year ago

Cal recruiting classes have been as good as anyone’s except maaayyybee Texas and NC State over the last 5 years. There was no shortage of talent on that team.

Bobthebuilder
Reply to  oxyswim
1 year ago

You said it right. Cal bear just beat Texas and NC state in the last two Championships, which were quite an achievements!

Andrew
Reply to  oxyswim
1 year ago

this doesn’t even factor in the fact that cal begs all their guys to come back for 5th years (which they do other than Hoffer) or the international recruits Marsh brings in with 2 months to go in the season. the last 2 years that has been the difference between winning a ring vs 2nd place.

Marsh is a master of putting himself in successful situations, but not the reason for success

NoFastTwitch
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

CAL doesn’t “beg” guys to come back for a 5th year. It’s a great program so guys choose to come back for a 5th year.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Bobthebuilder
1 year ago

Durden was winning with Meehan, Yuri, Chase, Bowe, and now Marsh. Seems like the consistent piece is Durden.

Bobthebuilder
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
1 year ago

Cal Bear recruiting class ranking:
2015: #2
2016: #1
2017: #1
2018: #8
2019: #4
2020: #4
2021: #3
2022: #16

NCAA championship ranking:
2015: #2
2016: #2
2017: #2
2018: #2
2019: #1
2020: NA due to Corvid
2021: #2
2022: #1 (David Marsh joined in Cal coaching in 02/2022)
2023: #1

It is hard not to give credit to David Marsh if you understand these data.
You guys really think Dave Durden didn’t know what he was doing by putting the rein in David Marsh’s hands?

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Bobthebuilder
1 year ago

Everyone, this isn’t me btw

Bupwa
Reply to  Bobthebuilder
1 year ago

Marsh is the brains behind everything great…He literally has “Magic Dust”!

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Bupwa
1 year ago

Team Elite became not so elite.

New Age Outlaws
1 year ago

Team Elite was an absolute scam. College kids going out to SD during a COVID year to train with a revolving door of coaches, zero seasonal plan, and a money grab plain and simple.

I think this dude interacted with them once over text with the golden nugget of “have an attitude of gratitude and you’ll swim fast”.

Everyone swam dreadfully.

Xman
Reply to  New Age Outlaws
1 year ago

More info needed

CCT Swimmer
Reply to  New Age Outlaws
1 year ago

This is really not true, at least regarding the Covid college program. Ask anyone actually involved and they will tell you it was a fantastic experience where people did actually swim fast, not a scam.

SD swim dad
1 year ago

I have to agree with y’all – Marsh is business first and coaching second. SoCal/San Diego folks will know what I’m taking about.

After leaving UCSD after 2 years (fired?) he founded Team Elite at the San Diego Jewish Community Center (JCC). He used his influence to kick out NCA (North Coast Aquatics) after a 25+ year relationship with the facility, as well as the Barracudas (less competitive option). Hundreds of age group swimmers displaced. And it’s not like they could join up with Team Elite because they only wanted the “best of the best”. It’s still a bit of a vacuum down south with not a lot of good options for these athletes.

His “professional hub” in SD (his… Read more »

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  SD swim dad
1 year ago

Speaking of SoCal, USC could use a reboot.

T cup
Reply to  SD swim dad
1 year ago

But that’s not what happened in San Diego, you got your dates and events totally mixed up. Facts matter.

mds
Reply to  SD swim dad
1 year ago

Got some bitterness issues showing SD swim Dad; pretty sure he hasn’t been primarily an Age Group coach for over 3 decades, which it sounds like is your emphasis; which it ok, but not really an appropriate analysis of Marsh’s performance.

Bupwa
1 year ago

This man is a genius, light years ahead of most elite coaches. He should take Alabama, Tennessee or USC over and dominate the NCAA. Worthy of a million dollar per year contract!

Dave
1 year ago

Agree with Andrew. The guy is a cheater.

NoFastTwitch
Reply to  Dave
1 year ago

Explain

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Dave
1 year ago

Please elaborate.

mds
Reply to  Dave
1 year ago

He looks for legal edges in addition to straightforward hard work and skill, which is a characteristic of most successful people. That may seem irritating to those who don’t do it as well but does not qualify as cheating.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  mds
1 year ago

….. legal edges, huh?

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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