2017 Swammy Awards: NCAA Women’s Coach of the Year Greg Meehan

To see all of our 2017 Swammy Awards presented by TYR, click here. 

2017 NCAA WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: GREG MEEHAN

Stanford women’s head coach Greg Meehan and his staff have built a fortress of elite swimmers in Palo Alto, with each recruiting class these last few years seeming to top the last. This year, he finalized the incoming class of 2022, which features the #2, #3, #4, #9, #15, and #16 recruits in the class, highlighted by Canadian record holder Taylor Ruck.

The Cardinal lost to the Georgia Bulldogs in the title race at the 2016 NCAA Championships, felled by a 200 free relay DQ, but came back in 2017 stronger than ever. After finishing 2nd in 2016 by just 19 points, they won the 2017 NCAA title with a whopping 526.5 points, roughly 160 points ahead of 2nd place Cal. Led by the trifecta of Ella EastinSimone Manuel, and Katie Ledecky, the Stanford women collected 47 All-American honors, seven individual NCAA titles, and three relay championship titles. The Cardinal won its first NCAA Championship since 1998, and it doesn’t look like they’re done yet, with another roster packed with talent this year, and the year after that.

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Carol Capitani, Texas: The Texas Longhorns made a huge jump from 2016 to 2017, climbing from 15th to 5th, just half of a point back of Georgia. 5th is the highest the Longhorns have placed under Capitani’s six season tenure (was 7th, previously), and the Texas women look very strong this season already. The Longhorns were led by Madisyn Cox‘s three A final appearances, while their 400 medley relay touched 3rd overall. Capitani’s Longhorns have a positive trend going, and things keep looking up as she aims to coach them to a perennial powerhouse position.

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bobo gigi
6 years ago

Congrats to Greg Meehan at Stanford.
Mr Albiero is also doing a great job at Louisville. He has transformed girls like Kelsi Worrell and Mallory Comerford into international stars. He deserves recognition in my opinion.

Swimmer
6 years ago

Great swimmers make great coaches.

Tom from Chicago
6 years ago

It still bothers me Eastin got that fake DQ in the 400IM. All those years of training should have culminated in a World Championship team and possible medal. There should should be a review committee for these sort of events.

Rev
Reply to  Tom from Chicago
6 years ago

Join the discussion

Rev
Reply to  Rev
6 years ago

I believe after video review it was confirmed that Eastin did come off on her back in the IM. Unfortunate and dumb rule but that was the rule at the time.

Klorn8d
6 years ago

No connection to A&M but I feel like Steve baultman is prett overlooked/underrated. They were third this year and I feel like they never get the top recruits but are consistently really good

Kathy
Reply to  Klorn8d
6 years ago

Year in and year out best women’s college coach/staff in the country. Followed closely by Jack and UGA.

Troy
Reply to  Klorn8d
6 years ago

Agree 100% Stanford has made great strides, but when u start with a number recruiting class 4 years in a row it only makes since. A n M always develops athletes who have huge drops from high school times. Swimming is about times and the drops dont lie

Hannah
Reply to  Klorn8d
6 years ago

They also had a lot of success internationally last year with Bethany Galaxy and Sydney Pickrem winning medals at world championships

Kathy
6 years ago

Best recruiter in the country at a school that recruits itself. No idea what happened to Lea.

Todd Stafek
6 years ago

I have known Greg for many years and he is a class act. What Greg and Tracy have done with their athletes is nothing short of incredible.

Bupwa
6 years ago

what about Coach Kreditch at Tennessee? He should at least get HM!

Hannah
Reply to  Bupwa
6 years ago

Tennessee has a disappointing NCAA meet last year where they finished 22nd. Maybe next year Kreditch can contend for the award.

Bupwa
Reply to  Hannah
6 years ago

Ok then in 2018 it will be!

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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