Following the announcement of Bob Bowman’s departure from Arizona State to become the Director of Swimming and Diving at Texas, the next biggest question became who would take over the national champion Sun Devils.
We didn’t have to wait long for the answer, as ASU’s Instagram page announced associate head coach Herbie Behm will take over the program. Behm has been with ASU since 2018 as an assistant coach and was elevated to his current position in April of 2022.
Behm, himself a Sun Devil alum, has been instrumental in ASU’s rise to the top. He primarily focuses on the sprint groups, which could provide a hint towards who will stay in Tempe and who will follow Bowman to Austin. The sprint pro group currently includes Simone Manuel, Ryan Held, and Olivia Smoliga.
When Behm joined the Sun Devil coaching staff in 2018, the men’s team was coming off of a 16th place finish at NCAAs. This past Saturday, they were crowned NCAA champions, led by French phenom Leon Marchand and a deep roster that had been throwing down fast swims all season.
Arizona State recently became a combined program at the start of this season, and while the women haven’t seen the same level of success as the men they are bringing in a number of strong recruits that could help them climb the rankings in the coming seasons.
ASU will make the move to the Big 12 next season. They claimed their second straight Pac-12 title this year.
This will be Behm’s first collegiate head coaching position. Prior to ASU, he spent two seasons as the assistant sprint coach at the University of Utah. Before that, he coached for the Phoenix Swim Club also in Arizona. He’s also served as a coach on the United States and Puerto Rican National teams.
Arizona State has been without an athletic director for five months following the resignation of Ray Anderson in November 2023.
Do we know how much Bowman is being paid yet?
Texas Boosters are probably the best in the country?
I dont see the hype surrounding this guy. He had half of an ncaa championship relay, inherited some fast pros last summer from other teams, and did zero with the women while he has been at ASU. Had nothing before ASU.
He touts some questionable ‘science’ on Twitter and seems to be good at self promotion. Surprised ASU didn’t look elsewhere tbh, but he is an alumn.
This gives me Brett Hawke at Auburn vibes.
Is Bowman gonna pull a Harbaugh and take all his guys with him just like harbaugh did with the Chargers?
Well, he’s not taking Herbie. So that’s 1.
Mike Bottom will be Herbie’s first hire at ASU. Calling it
You think he will come out of retirement?
Seems redundant
Outstanding coach. Outstanding hire.
WAIT! So does this mean that Regan entered the transfer portal to go to Texas all along ?!
I don’t know. I think some people knew about this last week, but I don’t think Regan knew about it that long ago.
Great coach. ASU will be fine. His group scored I’m guessing about half the ASU points at Men’s NCAAs (including relays).
His group exists because of Bowman. Bowman doesn’t simply let any part of his squad go without him being the primary voice.
Tell that to the women’s team before this year.
Who was his group?
Congrats to Herbie. A sprint dynasty is brewing.