Exclusive: Dean Farris Talks Decision to Redshirt NCAA Season, Train at Texas

It’s official: Harvard’s Dean Farris has announced his plans to take an Olympic redshirt for the 2019-2020 NCAA season. For the next 14 months, Farris will focus exclusively on long course training and competition. In addition to his new focus on long course, Farris will also utilize a new home pool at the University of Texas under the guidance of Eddie Reese. Harvard head coach Kevin Tyrrell and Associate head coach Sam Pitter will remain in close contact with Farris, making occasional trips to Austin over the course of the next year.

According to Tyrrell, Farris’ incredible performances at the 2019 NCAA Championships were the culmination of a three-year process that cemented their decision to redshirt the 2019-2020 season. Tyrrell’s full interview on Farris’ upcoming year of training with the Longhorn men can be found here.

As for Farris, the next year until Olympic Trials is about growth, training alongside, and learning from some of the fastest swimmers and best coaches in the world. Of course, making the Olympic Team is the dream, but placing either top-2 or top-6 in any one of his primary events at Trials cannot be the only metric for success. See Farris’ full interview below:

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marklewis
5 years ago

He’s right that being a senior in college and trying to make the Olympic team might be too much to juggle successfully.

We’ll see how he handles the excruciating pressure of the Olympic Trials. The freestyle events are always very competitive.

He’s got a chance this summer to climb the rankings and set himself up for 2020.

Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Wait a minute. Weren’t you guys the same ones who had an exclusive that he was swimming for Ireland?

Hannah
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

That was an April Fools joke

Wondering
5 years ago

Smart decision in an Olympic year. His LCM is way behind his SCY

Thomas
Reply to  Wondering
5 years ago

I’m not sure about how much success Texas has had with its pro group recently. I am under the impression that Eddie only focuses with his college group and that’s why Conger left (and likely Schooling no longer trains with them).

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Thomas
5 years ago

It’s different during Olympic years. He helped Conger, Schooling, Clark Smith, Haas A LOT for Rio.

HulkSwim
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Just being a nitpicker here, but they were all in college at the time.

Logan walley
5 years ago

Might be a silly question but what is redshirting

Admin
Reply to  Logan walley
5 years ago

It means he’s not competing, but also won’t lose a year of eligibility.

Anonymoose
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

(not competing in the NCAA meets)

Pvdh
5 years ago

Farris and Haas training together…both are gonna be ready to drop the hammer at trials/rio

Pvdh
Reply to  Pvdh
5 years ago

Tokyo*

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Pvdh
5 years ago

There was a video here of them training last year when Farris went to Austin. He was killing Haas in practice. Of course, he also killed him at NCAAs this year. Hope Haas has recovered from that first 250 of his 500 free.

PowerPlay
5 years ago

So generous of Dean to bring his greatness to Texas. Eddie will learn a lot.

Joel Lin
5 years ago

I think he made the right decision & hope + expect he will make the team next year.

But I do believe the Ivy League has a strict policy against athletic redshirting & is also notoriously difficult to make a showing for a medical redshirt. The schools have long held you only have 4 consecutive years to go it as a student athlete in any varsity sport. Is that out the window now or is this just a very rare exception?

Ragnar
Reply to  Joel Lin
5 years ago

Read David berkoffs post. And watch the video

Tea rex
Reply to  Joel Lin
5 years ago

Many Ivy athletes have taken a year off and returned for personal, academic, or even disciplinary reasons.

Technically, this is more a “gap year” than a traditional red shirt, since he will not be training/living/attending Harvard.

ItsMe
5 years ago

This is definitely a good move for him. He’ll probably have the best shot on making the Olympics in the 100, 200 free and 100 back.
Also, prediction for 2020 NCAA champs – Coleman Stewart is gonna win the 100 fly and 100 back (Assuming he doesn’t redshirt too).

About Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson originally hails from Clay Center, Kansas, where he began swimming at age six with the Clay Center Tiger Sharks, a summer league team. At age 14 he began swimming club year-round with the Manhattan Marlins (Manhattan, KS), which took some convincing from his mother as he was very …

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