On Tuesday, the University of Alabama announced that Andrew Hodgson will be named the new swimming and diving associate head coach. This announcement comes just over a month after former Alabama associate Ozzie Quevedo left the program to become head coach at SMU (Southern Methodist University).
“I am ecstatic to be joining Alabama swimming and diving. The chance to be immersed in an elite championship culture at one of the most legendary universities in all of sports is something I am thrilled about,” Hodgson said. “I want to thank Margo for providing me with this opportunity and I can’t wait to give everything I have for the Crimson Tide. Roll Tide!”
Hodgson spent the last three seasons (2020-23) as an associate head coach at Northwestern. However, he has been with the program for a total of five years, previously serving as an assistant coach from 2018 to 2020. He served his time in Evanston under two head coaches: Jeremy Kipp from 2018 to 2020 and then Katie Robinson from 2020 to 2023.
Northwestern has seen great success during Hodgson’s time there, particularly on the women’s side. Between 2018 to 2023, seven different Wildcat swimmers scored at women’s NCAAs and the team recorded their highest NCAA championship finish since 2000 when they placed 16th in 2021. In addition, women’s team records for every single NCAA individual event were set during this time period. On the men’s side, only one swimmer (Kevin Houseman) scored at NCAAs during Hodgson’s tenure, but Federico Burdisso became the first active Northwestern student to win an Olympic medal when he took bronze at the 2020(1) Tokyo Games. In addition, Houseman was named on the 2022-23 U.S. National team and the 2022 Duel In The Pool team.
Prior to Northwestern, Hodgson was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 2016 to 2018, the head coach for the New Trier Swim Club in Illinois from 2013 to 2016, the assistant coach for New Trier Swim Club from 2011 to 2013, and a student assistant at Florida Coach from 2010 to 2011. He graduated from Florida State in 2013 with a degree in exercise science.
“We are very excited to welcome Andy and his wife Alison to Tuscaloosa. Andy stood out in our search as someone with great character, enthusiasm and passion for leading others,” Alabama head coach Margo Geer said. “He is forward thinking in his approaches to coaching and recruiting, and he brings great experience at the NCAA and international levels. We are looking forward to sharing the deck with him.”
Hodgson is the third coach to leave Northwestern in the last year. Cal added former Northwestern graduate assistant Kim Williams to their staff last month, and former Northwestern sprint coach (who was the primary coach of prominent Northwestern sprinters Jasmine Nocentini, Maddie Smith, and Miriam Guavera) Ignacio Gayo was hired by Ohio State in August 2022.
Alabama has seem massive changes in their program over the last year as well. After finishing fourth at 2022 women’s NCAAs and returning all of their scorers for the 2022-23 season, the Tide lost two of their top sprinters in Cora Dupre and Morgan Scott and ended up finishing 14th at 2023 women’s NCAAs. Kensey McMahon won both the 500 and 1650 free at NCAAs, becoming Alabama’s first female individual NCAA champion since 1983. Following NCAAs, Tokyo Olympian Rhyan White and the Tide’s most high-profile swimmer announced that she would be moving to train at NC State after completing her college career at Alabama. Coaching-wise, longtime Alabama assistant James Barber also left the program in addition to Quevedo’s departure.
Will any of his current swimmers at Northwestern transfer to Alabama?
Can’t go in the portal now and be eligible next year unless there’sa head coaching change.
Margo had little choice but to hire someone who can actually coach. I hope he can bring some stability to a program that is reeling after the last few years. He sounds like a good person and the swim program definitely needs that going forward. I doubt he received Ozzie’s salary; the budget is a concern for an AD that doesn’t really care about swimming.
Greg Byrnes is a huge swim guy.
Andy is an absolutely amazing coach and an even better person. I am proud to have swam for him!
An absolute class act as a coach and a person. Andy’s got an incredible ability to lead while understanding the human behind the athlete. I wish him and his wife nothing but the best in Tuscaloosa. Thank you for giving it your all during your time at Northwestern. Alabama’s got a great one.
Is Andrew Charlie’s son?
The rugby player? Pretty sure not because he’d have been about 5 when Andy was born.
not related
Andy is one of the best coaches and people I know. I’m so grateful for his time as my group coach and so appreciative of how undyingly supportive he has been throughout my swimming career and through every up and down. He’s been a critical model in shaping who I am today, and Bama is so incredibly lucky to have Andy on deck with them. I can’t wait to see all the success Andy will bring to the program!
At least she actually hired someone with more experience than the rest of the staff combined? Seems like a dangerous gamble to me, but hope it works out for him
To clarify the Bama press release Ozzie left to become head coach of the women’s SMU team.
You should do your research before making such claims. Example, Coach Willets was an assistant under Bob Boman and worked with many Olympians and even Michael Phelps. Putting down coaches is not cool. We need to build our coaches up with all the positive things that they do for our swimmers and our swimming community. The long hours and commitments of all should be appreciated.
Maybe he sees it as a quick(ish) path to a head coach position?!
100% that’s what he is doing. The vultures will circle to pick on Margo’s position. She will be gone after this years train wreck coming up. Good luck to them. They will be second to last, and barely ahead of vandy at Sec’s
Your obviously not a RTR -Parent with your negative post! #RTR
100% am a RTR parent. I could air all sorts of dirty laundry, but choose not to. I am just stating facts. The recruits they have aren’t going to help their position in the SEC. SC is on the up and will place higher then bama next season.
Every angry negative parent good air dirty laundry about every program. Your not coach thank God! Keep your nasty negativity to yourself! Bama will be strong next year:)
100% that’s what he is doing. The vultures will circle to get Margo’s position. She will be gone after this years train wreck coming up. Good luck to them. They will be second to last, and barely ahead of Vandy at Sec’s
I don’t think it has to be that deep. I don’t know what he was getting paid at Northwestern (private school, so not public record), but I have a hard time believing he was getting the $152k base that Ozzie was making at Alabama.
How much is Margo making and what was James’ salary?
Looks Margo is $194,300 and Barber was $96,600.
I don’t think Alabama will stay within the staff for their hire. They will have to go outside for a fresh start. Especially where they are paying Margo almost 200k. They could hire a bigtime name for 250K.
Next year will be interesting, should be new coaching staffs at Alabama and Arizona, maybe some others….Texas?….but those two could be pretty big positions, Michigan is probably the only interesting one this year, and before everyone jumps on me by interesting I mean strong top 10 and possible top 5 program, programs that should be attracting big names