Division II NCAA record-holder Matt Josa is looking to transfer to the Division I level, with Texas, Cal, Missouri and Louisville among the potential landing spots.
Josa starred for Queens University for two years at the Division II level but is sitting out this NCAA season in an Olympic redshirt. That means Josa could have up to two years left to compete at the college level.
Multiple sources tell SwimSwam Josa is seeking a transfer to Division I, and Texas, California, Missouri and Louisville have all been named as possible transfer destinations. Texas and Cal have split the past two NCAA titles and are expected to be among the top few title contenders in 2016. They also both have great track records in the butterfly events, Josa’s specialty – Texas put an unprecedented 6 men into the NCAA Championship final in the 100 fly last year, and Cal has coached Tom Shields to NCAA and U.S. Open records plus NCAA and U.S. National long course titles.
Missouri and Louisville are both rising programs. Mizzou has an interesting connection in that the Tigers have had great success developing sprint freestyler Michael Chadwick, a former teammate of Josa’s at the SwimMAC Carolina club, while Louisville has trained Kelsi Worrell up to be the fastest female butterflyer in American short course yards history.
SwimSwam has reached out to Josa for comment and information on any other programs he’ll be visiting, but has not yet received a reply.
Josa would be a game-changer for any team in the NCAA. He holds short course lifetime-bests of 44.89 in the 100 fly and 1:42.96 in the 200 fly, plus a 1:41.94 in the 200 IM and some great freestyle (19.9/42.7/1:34.2) and backstroke (21.5/46.6/1:40.7) times to boot. He was also a member of the U.S. World University Games team in 2015 and will contend for an Olympic spot this summer in the long course pool.
If he were to go to Missouri to swim with his longtime teammate, Michael Chadwick, that second half of their 400 medley relay could compete with the best of them. Would probably be the second best in the NCAA right behind Schooling-Conger at Texas. Then again, he would make any second half of a 400 medley relay pretty formidable…would just be interesting to see two SwimMAC Team Elite guys on a collegiate relay together!
MIZZOU!
I think that going to LSU would be a great move. He could help them move out of last place at SEC’s and he could train with all the guys trying to crack 50 in the 100 fly. He really should consider it.
Wow…Josa will be a huge pick-up for any team, as Jared states. A head coach and future teammates will be really happy he’s selected their program. And, the four schools/programs associated with the news of his transfer are all really great programs….
Missouri:
To swim with his club teammmate, Chadwick, for Michael’s senior year. Looks like Mizzou has 7 qualify for NCAAs this year, with 5 juniors on that roster. They’d have a good year training and racing and seeing what they can do for that 2017-18 year. Then the current junior would be gone and a new energy will certainly emerge, if the past is any indicator of the future. Rhodenbaugh has done a fantastic job there in… Read more »
He just got back from his Louisville trip, he had a good time. But you might see him back at Queens where his friends are. He can train with the German flyer that they just attained that just went 51.9 long course. So Josa still has someone to keep an eye on in practice
Just sayin…
Real question is, why did he not choose D1 to begin with?
Probably wanted to swim with Dave Marsh and SwimMAC for a few years leading up to trials, which he couldn’t do at a D1 school. Judging by his time progression it looks like it was a smart move.
All good choices but NC state seems the best fit. Scholarship money important. He’s a full ride guy. Not sure who has the money but if he’s in state that helps out NC state
Tennessee Vols or NC State would be two I would consider first. Louisville next.