Texas A&M head women’s swimming coach and two-time U.S. Olympic coach Steve Bultman was named to the 2015 class of the American Swimming Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame, the organization announced.
Bultman, who has coached the Aggies’ program since 1999, was part of a five-person Hall of Fame class that also included Peter Banks (Ireland National Team Director), Joe Bernal (Bernals’ Gator Swim Club, Mass.), Chris Davis (SwimAtlanta, Ga.) and Raymond B. Essick (former executive director of USA Swimming).
“I’ve been a member of the ASCA for more than 40 years, and I’ve seen all the great coaches that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Bultman said. “For me to be included with those names is a great, great honor.”
Bultman served on the U.S. Olympic staff in 1988 and again in 2012, and he served on the Estonia Olympic Team’s staff for the 2008 Games. In addition to coaching a trio of U.S. Olympians from the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club in 1988, he has overseen the development of 10 Olympians at Texas A&M, including three U.S. Olympians.
At Texas A&M, Bultman has directed one of the most dramatic rises to power in college swimming history since taking over the reins of the women’s swimming and diving program at Texas A&M. When Bultman was hired at Texas A&M on June 2, 1999, the Aggies had never finished higher than third at the conference championships or in the top 10 at the national meet. Under Bultman, the Aggies have never finished lower than second at a conference meet and own an eight-year streak of top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
Under his direction, Texas A&M produced its first NCAA individual champions with a pair of wins in 2010 and has generated nine more national champions since those breakthrough victories. Along the way, the Aggies have broken two NCAA, U.S. Open and American records, as well as a numerous Big 12 and Southeastern Conference records. His teams have won four conference team championships and he has been named conference Coach of the Meet or Year 13 times as of 2014.
The honorees will be officially inducted into the ASCA Hall of Fame at the organization’s annual banquet on Sept. 11, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio.
College Swimming news courtesy of Texas A&M Swimming and Diving.
I first met Steve, as a timid seven year old girl! My Mom was told, after viewing my swimming pool skills, that she should look into swimming! Upon my tryouts, I was welcomed to the wonderful “PJC” program! He said, upon a meet, that I was a natural!!! With the guidance of Coach Bultman & his assistant, Coach Vince, I thrived & became my best me, as a swimmer & person! I miss those days of hard practices & strict protocol! Thank you, both!!! 💝
Steve Bultman was my high school coach at Jesuit in New Orleans. He was dedicated to the program and to my training. He made a big difference. Congratulations to a true mentor.
Jay Legeai
Steve Bultman, despite his many accomplishments, is also a nice guy.
Or at least he was in the early ’70s when he coached a New Orleans high school team.
Bet he still is.
Congrats Steve, from one of your Lynn Park Piranhas. Great job!
Steve…thank you..for you!!! You instilled in me, confidence, disipline & self worth!!! Congratulations, on a well deserved award!!! My treasures/awards & great memories are all due to the ” Outstanding Coach” you are!!! 🙂 Bless you now & always!!! 🙂
Congrats Steve. You totally deserve this. It was great fun to swim for you in New Orleans as a 6-year-old and then again as a teenager in Pensacola.
Congrats to my first coach. He had the vision to create a club team in Pensacola,FL. (GPAC)! Great coach and a great person as well!!
Not only one of the best coaches in the world but a great man. Congratulations Steve!