Michael Andrew Will Move to Tempe and Train Under Arizona State Head Coach Herbie Behm

Olympic gold medalist Michael Andrew is going to train at Arizona State University.

About five weeks after revealing that he was no longer going to be training with his dad and lifelong coach Peter Andrew, Andrew has finally unveiled that he will train with Arizona State and their new head coach Herbie Behm.

Arizona State are the defending men’s NCAA Champions, though the program has undergone a lot of changes – including Behm elevating to head coach to take over for Bob Bowman, who left for the University of Texas. Arizona State also joined the Big 12 Conference this season.

Behm was the program’s sprint coach last year, which makes him a logical fit for Andrew, who has been sprint-focused for most of his adult career.

While the Sun Devils lost a lot of talent in the shakeup, that which remains has performed exceedingly well so far this season, with sophomore Ilya Kharun being arguably the best swimmer in the NCAA through the first six weeks of the season.

Andrew mentions needing NCAA clearances, though he has clarified in the comment that he’s training in Tempe as a post grad, not as part of the NCAA team.

Andrew said that he initially considered commuting back-and-forth to Tempe from Costa Mesa, California, to train part-time with Arizona State, but ultimately decided that moving closer to Tempe was the best choice for his career. The drive from Costa Mesa to Tempe is about five-and-a-half hours.

“Trying to train myself leading up to the World Cups, I realized I cannot do it on my own. I need to be surrounded by guys that are pushing me, by splits that are keeping me accountable, and by, just accountability in terms of every day, the consistency, and the deliberation to it.

“I’ve been working very hard, but that ‘very hard,’ that effort, if it’s not kept in check…I had no idea what paces I’ve been holding for the last few months. It’s a bit of a weird one, and I think honestly a beautiful lesson for me to learn in this stage in the quad to know ‘hey, if I really want to do this, and I want to do this well, you gotta be there.'”

Andrew left the World Cup Series without much success, blaming several days of illness. He is part of the U.S. Team for December’s Short Course World Championships, scheduled to swim the 50 free and 100 breast individually.

He said that the 2024 US Olympic Trials was a feeling he “never ever wants to experience again in (his) life.”

See the full video on MA’s YouTube Channel below:

Peter Andrew has coached Michael since he was an age grouper in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where Peter was the coach of the Aberdeen Aquaholics, where the nuggets of the pair’s now-famous USRPT approach to training first developed while running continuous relay practices with young age groupers.

The family next moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where a two-lane pool that Peter built on the family’s property served as Andrew’s training ground until 2018. They then moved to Southern California, where they trained together out of various pools.

The two have become an iconic pair in swimming. While not the only parent-child coaching pair at the elite level of the sport, they had a rare combination where they were mostly training 1-on-1 or in small groups, and where Michael stayed with his dad instead of entering the NCAA system.

He says that he and his father still work together in clinics and as co-owners of the MA Swim Academy and in outreach for the USRPT programming. Michael says that he has anxiety about people perceiving that this move is him rejecting his family and USRPT, but that his father supports his decision.

He says that he’s most excited about the opportunities to lift consistently and train in a group of pros that are “at his level” and “pushing him day in and day out.”

Since becoming the youngest American to turn pro in swimming at age 13 in 2013, Andrew has had a storied career including one of the most-prolific age group record-setting runs the sport has ever seen, breaking records of behemoths of the sport like Michael Phelps.

Andrew’s career has included setting a World Record and winning Olympic gold as the breaststroke leg of the American men’s 400 medley relay at the Tokyo Olympics, 7 World Championship medals in long course, another 11 in short course, 4 World Junior Championship gold medals, and almost 100 medals on the Swimming World Cup tour. His 58.14 in the 100 breaststroke is the current American Record in the event.

His dad also served as the head coach, and his mom as the General Manager, of the New York Breakers team of the International Swimming League.

Michael Andrew didn’t qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Team. At the U.S. Trials, he finished 5th in the 50 free (21.81), 8th in the 100 breast (1:00.11 after a semis 59.65), and 16th in the 100 fly (52.98). All times were significantly slower than his bests.

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Troyy
1 hour ago

Mr #SprintRevolution will be disappointed

Wanna Sprite
2 hours ago

Doubt he can handle the long course training but this is definitely the best move for him. Not gonna lie everyone thinks Asu is slacking on the yards since Bob left; they would be so surprised. So curious to see how he adjusts

Last edited 2 hours ago by Wanna Sprite
Wanna Sprite
Reply to  Wanna Sprite
2 hours ago

Not hate I love Michael Andrew

BR32
Reply to  Wanna Sprite
1 hour ago

Clearly their “slacking on yards” doesn’t seem to be an issue. Ilya’s 2 fly 100% is “underperforming” expectations

Dann
3 hours ago

25 free,back , breast , fly. Just like the 8 and unders. OK

Scuncan Dott v2
3 hours ago

This will be interesting.

RealCrocker5040
4 hours ago

OH MY GOD

OG MY HOD

OG MY GOD

HALLELUJAH

HALLELUJAH

OH MY GOD OG KY GOF YES YEA YES YES YES HES COMING BACK OMG OMG OMG

Khase Calisz
4 hours ago

The mascot and his faith?

Danny
Reply to  Khase Calisz
2 hours ago

What about it? Hes there to swim and workout. You’re not going to see him throw up the horns.

Truth Teller
4 hours ago

He’s got a lot of work to do to ever win an individual medal at an Olympics

Lotta talent and a lot of bad decisions on managing his career

GowdyRaines
Reply to  Truth Teller
2 hours ago

Easy to post that but it’s tough when family is involved. Look at Lindros.

Woods
5 hours ago

The article didn’t mention that Dave Salo is there

cynthia curran
Reply to  Woods
4 hours ago

Probably. Well, him and the girlfriend have another distance relationship again. She does equestrian. Well, its hotter in Arizona since he was in the beach areas in California but training with faster adults swimmers at ASU is a better deal for him.

cynthia curran
Reply to  cynthia curran
3 hours ago

Its true its a better deal for him to do ASU full time.

Wanna Sprite
Reply to  Woods
2 hours ago

Dave will not train him. He might correct his breastroke stroke but that’s about it

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Wanna Sprite
2 hours ago

Is Herbie solely in charge of the pros?

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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