The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Missy Franklin has said that three of her college visits are locked in, with trips to USC, Cal, and Georgia scheduled. She could still plan more trips after she gets through the Olympics.
The notable absence from that list is Stanford; Franklin had originally included Stanford in the list when last she spoke on the topic of college swimming, but has changed her mind now that Lea Maurer has resigned as their head coach.
Cal and Georgia have been on Franklin’s list for a while. Cal coach Teri McKeever is also the Olympic Team head coach, so she has had the opportunity to work with McKeever already. Franklin has developed strong bonds to the Georgia swimmers after she traveled to Europe last fall for the FINA World Cup series with several Bulldogs, including NBAC’s Chase Kalisz and Allison Schmitt. While on that trip, Franklin broke her first World Record in the 200 short course meters backstroke.
USC publicly is a bit of a newcomer in the competition, though many insiders have long speculated that Dave Salo’s sprint-based program would be in the hunt. This would be a bit of a change from her training with Todd Schmitz, where Franklin is used to less sprinting-focus in practice.
Though every team in the country is likely to give Franklin as much or as little scholarship money as she wants, USC and Georgia will be in need more of a swimmer of Franklin’s backstroke skills than will the loaded Cal Bears. Of course, Franklin is a good enough freestyler (aka one of the top 5-10 in the world) to fill an important role on any team.
Franklin has already turned down tens-of-thousands of dollars in prize money, and potentially millions more in endorsements, to retain her amateur status and swim in college.
Agree with swimguy. It’s unreal to keep the athletes waiting. This will kill recruiting for this year with both Mich and Stanford. What about Bottom taking over both men’s and women’s? Seems like that might work if Bottom was inclined.
Just a rumor so take as such, but heard that Bottom said he specifically didn’t want to handle both programs. But if they wait any longer, there may be no choice for at least a semester, he may be told he has to take them.
And Stanford has pulled this stunt before with Quick waiting until an entire recruiting class was pretty much signed and under the impression he was the coach and then announcing his retirement but the school sat on things.
How will kids transfer when school literally starts in days at this point? And the argument that the swimmer picked the school not the coach so they wouldn’t want to transfer is hooey. Ever seen… Read more »
Has there been any word at all regarding Stanford and Michigan women? Seems like it’s leaving it very late with school about to start that they either haven’t named a coach yet.
Doesn’t seem fair to the athlete’s at this point. Let’s be honest, there are some that will want to know who the coach is in case it makes a difference as to if they stay at their school. Not all athletes get along with all coaches.
Almost seems like both schools are tying the athletes hands for this semester and that doesn’t exactly seem right.
Is there even a rumor at this point? Seems very quiet.
Of course she doesn’t have a Stanford visit scheduled….there is no coach for her to schedule the visit WITH! That doesn’t necessarily mean that she is not interested in Stanford.
To schedule a visit, you need a coach to coordinate with. When Stanford gets their new coach, I wouldn’t be surprised if Missy decides to visit after all.
Franklin is used to less sprinting in practice? Do you have any idea what type of program Todd runs? If anything, USC is more like the type of training Missy does.
I bet that if the Stanford Athletic Dept. interviewed Todd Schmitz (Colorado Stars head coach) for the vacant Women’s head coaching position, that would get Missy Franklin’s attention. This would happen after the Olympics (he’s currently preoccupied).
My understanding is Todd Schmitz was already interviewed for the position. However Roger, did you ever consider that maybe Missy is ready to move on…swim with a new coach??
And though Todd has had some interesting results with Missy, he has NO college experience! Coaching in that environment is nothing like the club scene. If Stanford thinks they can just hire a name and swimmers will come, they also have some serious things to consider!
Good points, SwamCoach. Stanford will be looking for a coach who has experience and sensitivity to their rigorous academic standards and difficult admissions process. I don’t know Schmitz’s academic background or collegiate (if any) coaching experience. Lea Maurer had been a successful high school coach, but she also had, of course, the Stanford link to the glory years of the early 1990s.
One of the things that helped make possible (new) Stanford Men’s Coach Ted Knapp’s selection of Scott Armstrong as his assistant is Armstrong’s background at a top-flight academic university: John’s Hopkins (experience working with Bob Bowman at NBAC is a big plus too). On the other hand, Stanford selected a (sort of) young Skip Kenney 33 years ago,… Read more »
Good points by both. I think for one, when Skip was hired it was a different era. The pressures on collegiate coaches were not what they are now. Hiring assistants can be a different game than hiring head coaches.
Maurer and her alum link had to have been considered in her selection, you’re right Roger.
I think Schmitz probably is a candidate for the Stanford job…but that wouldn’t be settled until after London (and, AD in charge of hiring has been on vacation).
Braden, do you know if it was Stanford that recently upped their standards for academics among recruits? I’m trying to recall, there was some news story about a dean at a relatively big school that was upping the academic requirements for athletes.
Whoever Stanford hires will have to deal with the unpleasant fact that Palo Alto (and the mid-Peninsula) is a very expensive place to live. This could be a detriment to attracting some top-flight talent.
Anyway, fun to speculate. I’m it will all turn out for the best.
I’d like to see them broaden their horizons and try and recruit coaches from overseas. Can you imagine what a coup it would be if a college could land someone like Stefan Widmer or Shannon Rollason?
Stanford, like many super rich private schools (in the 12 billion + category), owns tons of real estate, has ridiculous mortgage programs, salary based housing assistance (sometimes near free housing)—they have enormous resources and deep deep pockets and they can and do use them to recruit professors and coaches from all over the world–the question is–will they?
Anyone know who will be the next Stanford women’s coach?
Yippie?!