Florida State Jr Jason Coombs Retires After 3 NCAA Appearances

Florida State’s lone male swimmer to qualify for the 2016 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships Jason Coombs has decided to retire from competitive swimming.

Coombs told SwimSwam on Thursday that he has simply “lost his drive to compete,” and that “swimming is a rigorous sport, and it’s not worth it unless you have that drive.”

“It just makes sense to move on with my life,” Coombs concluded.

Coombs plans to remain at Florida State as a student, and with this decision he will leave one remaining season of eligibility on the table.

Coombs is a breaststroker who finished tied for 18th at last year’s NCAA Championships in the 100 yard distance with a 52.80; and alone in 18th place in the 200 breaststroke in 1:55.63.

His season-best times in both races were both done at the ACC Championships, and ranked him 14th nationally in the 100 (52.15) and 28th in the 200 (1:54.96). His junior season saw his 3rd trip to the NCAA Championships in 3 seasons of collegiate swimming.

Coombs, who originally hails from Oviedo, Florida near Orlando, is the Florida State University record holder in both breaststroke distances, thanks to times of 52.11 and 1:54.30, respectively, swum during his sophomore season. Those times were done at the 2015 NCAA Championship meet, where he was 9th in the 100 breaststroke and swam personal bests in all three of his entered events.

His sophomore season earned him the program’s Breakthrough Performance Award at the team’s annual awards banquet, and a year prior he was named the team’s Freshman of the Year.

Florida State finished 31st at last year’s NCAA Championship meet, thanks to 12 points from junior diver Dylan Grisell via a 7th-place finish on the platform. That extended the team’s streak of scoring to 12-straight NCAA Championship meets, but was their lowest finish since 2006.

A spokesperson for Florida State declined to comment on the matter.

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Tinky Winky
7 years ago

It’s official the AD finally pulled the trigger to late for some!!!!(!(!

Fan of Gary NC
7 years ago

There are some highly reputable coaches out there that could simply revitalize this team.

Gaaary Taaaylor *clap* *clap* *clapclapclap* ………….

Tinky Winky
Reply to  Fan of Gary NC
7 years ago

I agree GT would be great choice!

NOLEALUM
7 years ago

Sometimes a program needs to take 1 step backwards in order to take 3 forward. As an alum and someone who watches FSU practice every now and then I believe this will be change for the better. His skill and times do not reveal how poor his work ethic.

Swim parent
Reply to  NOLEALUM
7 years ago

Wow, very low to attack the student athete when, as you state, you are not part of the program and only watch a practice now and then. His swim record speaks for itself.

Swim parent
Reply to  NOLEALUM
7 years ago

Attacking the athlete won’t change FSU’s swim problems. Jason’s swim record speaks for itself.

Xswimmer
Reply to  Swim parent
7 years ago

Yes there is a problem with FSU swim program. Its COACH FRANK BRADLEY . I’m shocked he has now lost both his best male swimmer Jason Coombs an best female swimmer All American Chelsea Britt ..
COME ON STAN WILCOX DO YOUR JOB, AN GET A NEW COACH !!!!!!

Barry
7 years ago

Why is this news?

samulih
7 years ago

if coach is the issue, why not transfer, why not go to talk someone, swimming is not big revenue sport in fsu, methinks somebody would listen in the university……? or newspaper?

Turtles
Reply to  samulih
7 years ago

Transferring to only swim 1 year is a huge hassel. If he had more than one year I could see it.

HEARTBROKEN IN TALLY
7 years ago

It has been a privilege to see Jason Coombs swim for FSU. He is a true competitor and champion. Jason exemplifies what it means to be a Seminole Student Athlete.

This year, FSU has lost its two best swimmers in Chelsea Britt & Jason Coombs. Other top & middle tier swimmers have also departed the program during the past two years. The common denominator is Coach Frank Bradley & his failed coaching philosophy.

Constant negative reinforcement, psychological abuse & bullying-especially toward female swimmers, fits of irrational rage, threatening a swimmer’s scholarship or the amount of money toward one’s scholarship gains nothing except strip away a student athlete’s self-esteem & self-confidence.

Why swim for FSU when there are other more… Read more »

2Fat4Speed
7 years ago

Hard for me to imagine. I would have swum 8 years in college if I was allowed!

OldHilltopper
Reply to  2Fat4Speed
7 years ago

Let’s be real. There are major coaching issues in Tallahassee.

dmswim
7 years ago

Good for him for knowing to stop when his heart wasn’t in it. I’ve seen far too many swimmers swim for too long and end up bitter. Nothing ruins team dynamics more than seniors who don’t want to be there. Best of luck to Jason! Enjoy life as a swammer!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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