The Cali Condors of the International Swimming League (ISL) have announced their coaches for the team’s inaugural 2019 season. Former University of Florida head coach Gregg Troy will serve as the Condors’ new head coach, with assistants Dean Boxall and Jeff Julian supporting him.
Troy retired in 2018 from his post as the head coach at the University of Florida, where a 20-year career included sending 47 athletes to the Olympics and winning a 2010 NCAA women’s team championship. Since retiring, Troy has continued to coach in Gainesville with Florida’s post-grad group: that includes training the Condors’ most recent athlete addition Caeleb Dressel, as well as Ryan Lochte. Dressel was announced as a member of the Condors on Wednesday, while Lochte is ineligible for the league as a result of his anti-doping rules violation.
The roster includes 3 other former University of Florida swimmers: Jan Switkowski (Poland), Mark Szaranek (Scotland/UK), and Natalie Hinds (USA).
Dean Boxall is the coach of powerhouse Australian training group St. Peter’s Western. Among the swimmers on his roster there is Shayna Jack, who is still listed among the Condors’ athletes, but who is currently suspended by the ISL pending the outcome of an Australian anti-doping investigation.
Boxall is also the coach of Ariarne Titmus, an 18-year old Australian phenom who won gold in the 400 free at the World Championships and became the second-fastest swimmer in the history of that event, behind only Katie Ledecky. Current Condors Mitch Larkin and Jack Cartwright also train under Boxall at St. Peter’s Western.
The 3rd member of the staff, Jeff Julian, gives the Condors more Cali flavor. Julian is the head coach of Rose Bowl Aquatics in Los Angeles, California and a former assistant coach at USC. Lezak represented Rose Bowl Aquatics for 5 years from 2007-2012, including when swimming his famous Beijing 400 free relay anchor leg. Lezak also hosted a #TEAMJeff event to rally his current and former swimmers to support Julian in his fight with stage 4 cancer.
Current 2019 Cali Condors Roster:
| WOMEN | MEN |
| Kelsi Dahlia | Bowen Becker |
| Mallory Comerford | Townley Haas |
| Melanie Margalis | Nic Fink |
| Hali Flickinger |
Kacper Majchrzak
|
| Kylie Masse | Anton Ipsen |
| Molly Hannis | Justin Ress |
| Natalie Hinds | John Shebat |
| Shayna Jack* | Jan Świtkowski |
| Ariarne Titmus | Mark Szaranek |
| Lilly King | Mitch Larkin |
| Olivia Smoliga | Andrew Wilson |
| Kasia Wilk | Jack Cartwright |
| Kelsey Wo |
Radosław Kawęcki
|
| Caeleb Dressel |
Please second opprtunity Ryan Lochte. Ryan use only B12
Even with his swimmers on roster, it is somewhat surprising that Dean Boxall would be hired as an ISL coach given the controversy swirling around him in Australia regarding bullying and fat-shaming at his St. Peter’s Western program (in addition to the yet-to-be resolved doping suspension of his swimmer Shayna Jack).
Bowe Becker will make top 6 at trials in the 100 if he trains with Troy!
Will Lochte ever be eligible for this league? Is he serving a temporary probation from joining a team, or is he completely banned?
He is completely banned as rules are written now. The only way he would ever be eligible would be if the rules were changed of if an exception were made.
I love what’s going on with the ISL, but the dynamic is still pretty unclear to me. What does it mean to be the head (and assistant coach)? Do they coach the team only at the competitions? Or are most of the swimmers actually training with this team of coaches? Are Troy and Dressel moving to California? Or sticking around Gainesville and just competing for the Cali Condors?
If the swimmers are spread throughout the country/world, is there coordination with the team coaches and the personal coaches to get good performances at the ISL meets? What are the responsibilities/agreements like there?
It’s a little weird for the head coach and star swimmer to live and train in Florida, but compete… Read more »
Oh, I missed yesterday’s article. I should’ve started with this: https://swimswam.com/understanding-the-isl-watch-u-s-team-owners-explain-the-league/ . They probably answer some of my questions…
Does this group all train together or just meet up for scheduled meets?
Simone Manuel joins Cali Condors in 3…..2…..1
Assuming he must be in attendance at every meet, maybe we could see Dressel at more than expected.