Mike Cutler Named Head Coach of Buffalo Area Aquatic Club

Courtesy: Buffalo Aquatics

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Area Aquatic Club (BAAC) is pleased to announce that Mike Cutler will be joining the club as the new head coach on August 12th. Cutler brings over 25 years of coaching experience to the club in addition to serving various posts over the years within the Michigan Swimming LSC.

For the past thirteen years, Cutler served as head coach for the Rockford Riptide USA Swimming Club in Rockford, Michigan. In addition to leading the Rockford Riptide, Cutler also coached the Rockford High School Men’s Swimming and Diving Team for the past two years. During this time, his teams have sent a contingent of swimmers to Junior Nationals, Futures, Short Course and Long Course Sectionals and several team Michigan Zone qualifiers. Cutler has also coached several state champions, individuals and relays, along with athletes who achieved numerous top eight finishes each year.

Prior to Rockford, Cutler coached the Traverse City Breakers Swim Club for six years (three as head coach), the Godwin Heights Swim Team in Grand Rapids for over two years and served as a swim coach for Sports Tours USA for the U.S. Travel teams to Australia in 2003 and Sweden in 2004.

In addition to coaching, Cutler has been actively involved in the development of the sport of swimming by serving over 13 years in various positions within Michigan Swimming, Inc. Most recently, he served as General Chair and held former positions as Administrative Vice Chair, Safety Chair, Junior and Senior Coach Representative, Program Operations Vice Chair, and Program Development Vice Chair. Cutler also served as zone coach from 2005 to 2007 and as head zone coach from 2008 to 2011.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the BAAC family and to Western New York,” said Dave Borden, President of the BAAC Board of Directors. “Our dedicated parent board conducted an extensive search for a coach who embraced our mission of building a program of excellence that inspires our swimmers to achieve their maximum potential. Mike brings coaching success, USA Swimming governance experience and a shared vision for developing all levels of swimmers within our club.”

“As soon as I met the BAAC team and family and toured the swimming facilities at the University at Buffalo, I saw the potential to grow this team from age group swimmers through college swimmers by offering tailored programs to fit their needs. I have been involved in swimming for most of my life and look forward to teaching and challenging the BAAC athletes to reach their goals and to foster a lifelong love for swimming beyond the competition years.”

Cutler has four children who all participated in collegiate aquatics including three daughters who swam at Michigan State University and a son who played water polo at San Jose State. Cutler will be relocating to Buffalo with his family in August.

The BAAC team has 24 swimmers qualified for the Niagara LSC Long Course Championships being held at the Erie Community College Burt Flickinger Center this weekend from July 19-22. To learn more about BAAC or to join the BAAC team, please visit www.buffaloswimming.com. Registration for the upcoming competitive swimming season begins on August 2nd with short course practice beginning on August 20th.

ABOUT BAAC:

The Buffalo Area Aquatic Club (BAAC) is a year-round, USA Swimming competitive team that offers professional coaching and technique instruction. Originally founded in the 1960s as UB Amherst Swimming, BAAC has a tradition of excellence, producing many of the area’s premier swimmers. Athletes who have trained and competed with the club have achieved success at the regional, national, and collegiate level. Under the leadership of a dedicated coaching staff and a passionate family of athletes and parents, BAAC is committed to setting the tone for excellence in Western New York swimming.

BAAC is part of the Niagara Swimming LSC and is a nonprofit organization run by an elected Board of Directors.