Austin Swim Club Hires Roric Fink as New Head Coach

The Austin Swim Club in Austin, Texas has announced Roric Fink as the program’s new head coach. Fink comes to the program from the nearby University of Texas, where he was on deck for 8 seasons.

He will officially begin his tenure on August 15, and he replaces former head senior coach Chris Coghill.

In addition to head coaching duties, he will lead the team’s top Senior 1 group.

Fink had been coaching the Texas women’s program for eight seasons. He was an assistant coach from 2012 to 2017 before being promoted to associate head coach for the 2017-2018 season. Fink had previously coached at Missouri (two seasons as associate head coach) and Arizona (seven seasons as an assistant coach).

Fink has also coached the Tempe Sun Devils Aquatic Club and with the powerhouse Tucson Ford club in prior USA Swimming experience.

Fink had been Capitani’s top assistant every year since she took the Texas job in 2012. In 2019, the Longhorns had their best NCAA finish of the Capitani/Fink era, placing 5th nationally. The team had six top-10 finishes under that staff in seven NCAA Championships.

In 2020, Texas had 5 female swimmers qualify for the NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championships, which was the lowest count of the Carol Capitani era (which previously was 8 qualifiers in 2015).

The club was led by 6-time Olympic medalist Brendan Hansen, who resigned in 2018 after 4 years with the club. Among the program’s most noteworthy alumni are US World Junior Championship team member Matthew Willenbring and 2017 U.S. World Championships team member Dakota Luther.

Also Announced as new members of the coaching staff:

  • Ian Cross was hired for the new position of head development coach. He previously served as a head site coach for Lost Creek Aquatics, also located in the Austin area.
  • Mariah Harper is joining the staff as a development and age group coach, effective August 10.
  • Felix Gonzalez is joining the staff as an age group coach, effective August 18. He has been coaching at nearby Nitro Swimming for the last 7 years.
  • Matt Byrd was promoted to Head Age Group Coach.

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mds
3 years ago

Do well Roric!

Rebecca Millard
3 years ago

So happy for you Roric!! These kids are lucky to have such an incredible coach!!!

Roric4Pres2020
3 years ago

Love me some Roric! Glad to see him staying in Austin! One of the best in the biz! This guy is the real deal!

Aaron Braxton
3 years ago

WE MISS YOU TONY

Monique Shelton
3 years ago

Way to go Roric! Good Luck Man and see you on deck.

PVSFree
3 years ago

What’s Brendan Hansen been up to in the last couple years? I remember he made a huge impact at ASC when he was coach

Steveoswim
3 years ago

How come Chris left?

Steveoswim
Reply to  Steveoswim
3 years ago

Lots of downvotes. Didn’t mean to strike a nerve. Really don’t know anything about situation and was just curious.

Swimswum
Reply to  Steveoswim
3 years ago

He left on very good terms with the club and wanted a life change in Washington.

TEXASSWIM
3 years ago

What a great hire for ASC!! He will continue to develop an already strong program.

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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