Arizona State Fosters Long Course Culture Under Bowman (Video Report)

Since the arrival of Bob Bowman and his staff at Arizona State University, the program has been on the rise, both on the NCAA and international stages. A culture of expectation has been set into motion that holds athletes accountable year round, and always keeps the long course season, and post-season, in the back of their head.

Bob Bowman, long time coach of Olympic medalists Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt, and Chase Kalisz, likes for his athletes to be of the mindset that long course is always relevant. While it starts with developing that mindset, the staff certainly makes sure their work load reflects it, typically going Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday practices long course throughout the entire year.

2016 Olympian Cierra Runge, who trained with Bowman leading up to those Olympics and will compete for the sun devils next year, expressed her satisfaction with the emphasis on long course throughout the season. The olympic gold medalist said she enjoys competing at the NCAA championships, but a big focus for her swimming is set on the international stage. Runge admitted that her turns can be one weak spot for her, so she’s glad that there is a good amount of technique even when the team is training long course, so that her long course work can still translate to her short course performances, and vice versa.

Sun devil newcomer Grant House shared the sentiments of his teammate and coaching staff. He enjoys that while ASU does put a heavy emphasis on the NCAA championships, in the bigger picture of a season it is seen as a stepping stone towards what one might accomplish at the end of the summer, be it at a national or international stage.

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Troy
6 years ago

Most big programs do short course and long course maybe not 3 times a week but at least once or twice a week.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Troy
6 years ago

100% correct. College pograms that have a LCM pool use it throughout the year, and not just over the summer during LCM season.

2 Cents
Reply to  Troy
6 years ago

Back in the days (mid 2000s) my college program did 3 LC practices a week during the Fall (including a 3 hour Saturday workout), and “in-season” until about Jan or Feb, did 2 per week and we were easily identified as a “distance program”. As a sprinter, it was very VERY annoying to do this much LC training… especially when the coaches did not know how to convert from LCM to SCY… (a 1:15 100 interval for LCM is NOT the same as a 1:10 interval in SCY)….

Becky D
Reply to  2 Cents
6 years ago

If you got time to whine, you’re getting too much rest.

Superfan
6 years ago

Cameron Craig was the face of ASU swimming and now it is Grant House! Craig must have fallen out of favor! And none of them are on USA National team.

Buckeyeboy
Reply to  Superfan
6 years ago

The same Grant House who went a 1:54+ in a seeded heat at Olympic Trials in 2016??

Swimnerd
Reply to  Buckeyeboy
6 years ago

Damn, he really just did it to this man

EagleSwoop
Reply to  Buckeyeboy
6 years ago

BuckeyeBoy you ever have anything good to say? 90% of comments on this site are bashing a 16-22 year old on their choice of college, practice type, or success of some sort. The other 10% are inside jokes about Dean Farris. Grow up and stop putting down everyone on this site

Buckeyeboy
Reply to  EagleSwoop
6 years ago

I am offended that you are offended. I was not bashing, simply wanted to make sure that the person in the video was the same one who went the time in Omaha. And to be honest, I find most of the Dean Ferris comments witty and funny. That is all.

Greg
Reply to  Buckeyeboy
6 years ago

Yes it is! He has improved that much in the ASU program.

Yeety
Reply to  Greg
6 years ago

He split a 1:49 on a relay at junior worlds in 2015. We will see if he hits that this summer, but for now let’s wait and see shooting him down.

Eugene
6 years ago

Are they sponsored by MP brand? Most gear and goggles in this video are MP.

Joel Lin
Reply to  Eugene
6 years ago

What I want most is to see a few less MP t-shirts and a few more more Jeah! t-shirts.

That’s all I want.

Justin
6 years ago

If it’s such an “ideal” place to train then why did so many people leave…?

Coach John
Reply to  Justin
6 years ago

such is the ebb and flow of NCAA recruiting…

2 Cents
Reply to  Coach John
6 years ago

No its not. Name another program besides IU with more transfers out….

Stan Crump
Reply to  2 Cents
6 years ago

It seems a bit unusual, however, many programs undergoing coaching changes have similar problems.

sven
6 years ago

My favorite part of this video is the swimmer using a snorkel while on his back at 3:34.

Aquajosh
6 years ago

Sounds like an excuse for poor performances at NCAAs. I’m also pretty sure an AD doesn’t want to hear “NCAAs are nice, but what we really care about is international competition.” Get you a team that can do both.

Gramps
Reply to  Aquajosh
6 years ago

A man named Eddie seems to have that figured out. Some guy named David did it really well for a while too

dude
Reply to  Gramps
6 years ago

Another guy named David over there in Cali-forny seems to have it figured out also

(G)olden Bear
Reply to  Aquajosh
6 years ago

“I want you to focus on international competitions, rather than conference and NCAA championships”. Said no AD ever.

sscommenter
Reply to  (G)olden Bear
6 years ago

eh, you have to figure the potential ROI on International champions is a bit higher than NCAA champions. in both a sense of recruiting and financially

(G)olden Bear
Reply to  sscommenter
6 years ago

There is a difference between international competitions and international champions. Putting a couple swimmers on the (junior) Pan Pac team is not the same as producing Olympic medalists…

SinkorSwim
6 years ago

ASU AD has a strong emphasis or desire to be a NCAA Student Athlete funnel for Olympic sports. Is this a distraction to the typical NCAA format or an advantage? Time will tell……

Frost
Reply to  SinkorSwim
6 years ago

Short course meters is the answer

A non-e mouse
6 years ago

Long course culture of transfers!

Hswimmer
Reply to  A non-e mouse
6 years ago

Yep and what’s so bad about people wanting a new environment?

Jacob
Reply to  Hswimmer
6 years ago

Obviously transfers not a problem because I see a lot of people in this video

A non-e mouse
Reply to  Hswimmer
6 years ago

It’s a joke mate

Ummmm
Reply to  A non-e mouse
6 years ago

Transfers IN

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