Auburn will hire Tyler McGill to fill the assistant coaching spot on the staff when Sammy Busch left to join his brother at Virginia (a move still as of yet not officially announced by UVA), according to sources close to the program.
McGill is an alumni of Auburn, meaning that every single member of the Auburn swimming coaching staff, including strength coach Bryan Karkoska, is an Auburn alum. The lone defector is diving coach Jeff Shaffer, the head diving coach, who went to Wisconsin.
McGill has been training at Auburn as a post-graduate since finishing his NCAA career in 2010 with a pair of relay titles, and a 2009 runner-up finish in the 100 fly. He won an individual bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in the same event, and won a gold medal at the Olympics as a prelims swimmer in the 400 medley relay. McGill failed to make the World Championship squad in 2013.
The Auburn staff will head into the 2013-2014 season as follows:
Brett Hawke, head swimming coach (Class of ’10)
John Hargis, associate head coach (Class of ’99)
Jeff Shaffer, head swimming coach (Wisconsin Class of ’80)
Richard Long, assistant coach (Class of ’05)
Tyler McGill, assistant coach (Class of ’10)
Demarae Christensen, assistant coach (Class of ’04)
Bryan Karkoska, strength coach (Class of ’94)
McGill is expected to train through the U.S. Open, and then turn his attention to coaching full-time. As the position was not official yet, neither McGill nor Auburn could make any comment.
Correct. This is why so many of our ‘older’ swimmers still haven’t thrown in the towel – their livelihood is dependent on those sponsorships. Hopefully one day, the sport can appeal to the rest of the public and other sponsors will give more opportunities to athletes at Tyler’s caliber.
So it’s pretty obvious Tyler wasn’t able to bring in enough endorsement, sponsership money to continue his life as a professional swimmer. Even with a couple stars making decent money, for the average gold medalist like Tyler, it is still very very difficult to make any coinage in swimming!
It’s one of the sad aspects of swimming. Here’s a guy that’s one of the best in the world (top 10) and he can’t pull in enough support to be a full time professional. Compare this with track and field or marthon running, where being in the top 20 of your event is enough to get pretty good endorsement money. And let’s not talk about team sports like soccer where you can make a living even if you’re not ranked in the top 100!
And track and field has the luxory of having gigantic shoe company sponsers. Most shoe company products are globally sold to people outside of track and field, whereas in comparison Arena, Speedo, and Tyr only appeal to competitive swimmers, thereby limiting the marketing pool. The major swimming suit companies combined don’t equal the financial capitalization of one large shoe company.
Swimming needs to get outside the swim apparel box and promote other more globally marketable products!
There’s also a problem in swimming: events differentiation.
Most folks can’t tell that there’s 100 butterfly event, while everyone across the world know what a marathon is.
Let’s face it: there’s inflation and dilution of events in swimming, unlike in track&field where everyone knows that a 100 dash is not the same as a marathon or pole vaulter.
does he even have any coaching experience?! I get that he’s a decorated and talented swimmer, but that doesn’t always translate to being a successful c
does he even have any coaching experience?! I get that he’s a decorated and talented swimmer, but that doesn’t always translate to being a successful coach…
Have to start somewhere to find out and some have made it.
Yeah. Guessing they will not put him in charge of a group and just see what happens. This is an experienced staff so I am betting he will start out doing a lot of administrative things.
wat???????????????????????????????????
🙁
Josh P, looks to me like Godsoe is up to the task.. He did after all qualify #1 for worlds this year…
Wow. With Phelps gone and the 100 fly wide open one of the top contenders for 2016 takes himself out. Guess this opens the door for some others to grab a spot….maybe one of these you guys.
So who’s going to take over as the top dog representing Team USA for the 100 fly? Lochte? Since Phelps retired after London, I thought McGill could be that guy.
good point, he was on track to be the guy in the 100 fly
There’s a pretty good list of youngsters that should be ready by 2016… Conger, Lynch, Josa, and Black all come to mind.
But…he didn’t make the Worlds team. It’s not like he had a stranglehold on the top spot after Phelps.
Perhaps Tom Shields from Cal?
Or dare I say the guy who won the 100 fly at World champ trials… Eugene Godsoe
Still astonished that Brett snuck in when he did, he didn’t even have a degree when he was hired. Think he was forced to get one when he took the position. Auburn just loves to bring in the international swimmers.