Arizona Rounds Out Coaching Staff With Addition of Chad Castillo

The University of Arizona has filled out its coaching staff for the 2023-24 season.

The program announced the addition of Chad Castillo to its full-time swimming and diving staff on Wednesday, with the Wildcat alum being named an assistant coach after serving as a volunteer assistant in 2022-23.

Castillo is Arizona’s second coaching hire in as many weeks, joining fellow Arizona alum Amanda Beard, who was named an assistant coach last Tuesday.

Castillo and Beard fill the coaching vacancies on Arizona’s staff left by Cliff Robbins and Anna Heller, who were relieved of their duties following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.

Prior to gaining some collegiate experience last year, Castillo spent eight years coaching at La Paloma Country Club and Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics Club.

“I am tremendously excited to bring coach Castillo onto our staff,” Arizona head coach Augie Busch said.

“He has worked hard and earned this opportunity. Chad has huge potential as a Division I coach through his teaching skills and relationship-centered approach. I have no doubt that he will become an excellent recruiter as well. I coached Chad as a high schooler and he has always been a genuine, kind, and positive person. I think he’s going to be a difference maker for our program; I can’t wait to work with him.”

Castillo also spent five seasons as the head women’s swim coach at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, guiding the Lancers to the 2014 Arizona Division II Women’s State Championship. He was also named Arizona 5A/Division II southern region Coach of the Year honors in all five seasons.

“I am excited and honored to join the University of Arizona’s swimming and diving coaching staff,” Castillo said. “As a lifelong Tucsonan and Wildcat, I understand the important place that the University of Arizona’s swimming and diving program holds in the community. I am grateful for the opportunity that coach Busch has given me to be a part of this amazing program and its future. Bear Down!”

Castillo graduated from Arizona in 2008 with a degree in Biology and earned his master’s in Teaching and Teacher Education in 2010. He and his wife, Katie, have three children: Caden, Camryn, and Cooper.

Castillo will join Beard, Lara Jackson and Roric Fink as assistant coaches under Busch, with the program looking for a bounce-back season of sorts in 2023-24.

The Arizona men finished fourth out of six teams at February’s Pac-12 Championships while the women placed sixth out of eight teams.

Both squads had zero individual points come from swimmers at the NCAA Championships, with all 52 of the women’s coming from diver Delaney Schnell and the men getting one from diver Bjorn Markentin. The Wildcat men did put some points on the board in the 200 free relay at NCAAs, placing 12th.

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Hornee
1 year ago

I heard this guys ideas is the reason Eddie Reese brought texas to the top. He coached a lot of famous cal swimmers. He may be the help Arizona needs to get back to the top. Shout out chad

Joe
Reply to  Hornee
1 year ago

Did you read the article? This guy has no connection to Cal, Eddie or college swimming. Busch lite coached him as a high school swimmer, which neither busch or Chad swam as it reads. The only reason either of these two have a job at Arizona is because of Daddy busch.

Hornee
Reply to  Joe
1 year ago

You don’t know what you’re talking about. Use your outside resources

Llyod
Reply to  Hornee
1 year ago

Hornee, Are you referring to Chase Kreitler? Joe is correct, this guy Chad never swam in college, like Augie.
Hornee, you inspired me to look this guy up, from his UA bio he has only volunteered for UA for maybe a season, which is his only college swimming experience. He isn’t currently coaching the club team mentioned, Ford, or a high school team, for almost a decade. Chad is however currently coaching local summer league country club team in Tucson, La Paloma that it mentions. This looks like Augie hired an old high school swimmer and latest volunteer. Is this hire so Augie has a yes man, a person who is niave to the college scene and won’t have… Read more »

Azswummer
Reply to  Hornee
1 year ago

What????

Streamline
1 year ago

In case of water landing your seat cushion will become a floatation device that includes alumni with little or no coaching experience to provide flotation until your contract ends.

Azswummer
1 year ago

Total staff turnover since Augie came on board. If this doesn’t work, it’s a slam dunk what should be the next move…

Chachi
1 year ago

Time to dump Busch Lite and give Roric the gig.

Popo(veni vidi)vici
1 year ago

He looks like a Chad

Danny
1 year ago

Never thought I would see Augie compared to Eddie.

Gaglianone’s boot
1 year ago

The kris kubik to augie’s Eddie Reese. Dawn of a new era in Tucson!

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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