The Ohio State swimming and diving program will be navigating this season with major staff changes following the departure of associate head coach Mike Hulme and the promotion of Brian Schrader and Norm Wright into associate head coach roles. Ohio State has also added Michael Butler as an assistant coach and Patrick Hemingway as a graduate intern.
Hulme stepped away from coaching last month after nine years on the Buckeye staff. A four-year letterwinner for Ohio State from 2008–11, he returned to his alma mater as an assistant in 2016 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2022.
During his time at the helm for the Buckeyes, the women’s team captured four Big Ten titles, while the men earned four runner-up finishes. He coached more than 30 athletes to All-America honors.
“Mike Hulme has been a Buckeye since birth as his father, Jack, was a swimming star for the Buckeyes in the late 1960s,” said Ohio State Director of Swimming and Diving Bill Dorenkott in a press release. “Mike followed in his dad’s footsteps as a student-athlete and then spent nine years as a member of our coaching staff. We are grateful to Mike and the Hulme family for all they have done to serve the university.”
Butler joined the program in June after serving as a graduate assistant and volunteer coach at Case Western Reserve, where he also competed collegiately and held the school record in the 1650 freestyle.
Hemingway, a 2025 Villanova graduate and the Wildcats’ record holder in the 50 free, will work with both the men’s and women’s teams while pursuing his master’s in sport coaching.
“Michael started his graduate work at Ohio State in the Master of Sport Coaching program. Ohio State has a history of finding and developing talented young coaches.” Dorenkott said. “Patrick started with us this summer and quickly endeared himself to our team and staff. He has a steady presence and a genuine curiosity and desire to be an elite coach.”
Following Hulme’s departure, Schrader and Wright have both been promoted to associate head coach positions. Schrader, who joined the Buckeye staff in 2022, will lead student-athlete development. Wright, hired in 2023, will head the men’s swimming program, including recruiting and roster management.
“Brian and I have been friends for over 30 years, including time together on the U.S. National Team staff,” Dorenkott said. “We’ll maximize his skill set by growing his role within our program.”
On Wright’s promotion, he added, “Norm made an instant impact on our program through his infectious passion for the sport. His leadership will have a direct and immediate impact on our program’s success.”
The Ohio State men turned in a 3rd place performance at the Big 10 Swimming and Diving Championships last season, while the women brought home the team title. Then, at the 2025 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, the Buckeye men finished 16th, while the women finished 14th.
All the great coaches in central ohio but Bill won’t reach out to them for openings.
Uhhhh the coach they hired is a coach from Central Ohio. In fact, he was a coach from right on the very same pool deck.
You mean the coach that was already on staff…. Good one
It’s never been about the coaching.
Hope all is well with Mike! Wishing him the best.
So what happened with Mike Hulme? Also, noticing there are still no female swim or diving coaches on staff? Seems very strange!
sometimes people just burn out of this sport, no wonder with NIL and recruiting
Got tired of Bill
can someone tell my why the schedule seems light on dual meets this year?