Yesterday, the head coach of Notre Dame Women’s Swimming, Brian Barnes, announced he would be resigning from his position, effective immediately, for personal and family reasons. This announcement came only a week after last year’s assistant coach, Kate Kovenock, was named the new head women’s coach at Brown.
There was speculation as to who would take over the program, but sources tell us a new interim head coach has been named and an announcement from the university is expected later today. Two independent sources who learned of the news first-hand, but asked not to be named because the official announcement had not been made, told us that Tim Welsh has been named Interim Head Coach of the Notre Dame Women’s Swim Team.
Tim Welsh announced his retirement at the end of the 2013-2014 season after 29 years as head coach of the men’s swim team. He is currently the second longest-serving coach in Notre Dame history. Welsh has coached at Notre Dame since 1985. From 1985 to 1995, he coached both the men’s and women’s programs. He finished his career with Notre Dame as the head coach of the men’s team.
As the women’s coach, “Welsh’s teams posted a 93-50-1 (.649) dual meet record, winning Midwest Collegiate Conference titles in each season from 1987-95. His teams also claimed the Eastern Intercollegiate championship twice. The first title came in 1990 and the second in 1995, when the last women’s program Welsh coached finished with the best record in school history, 14-1. During his 10 years at the helm of the women’s program, Welsh sent 11 swimmers to the NCAA Championships, including three-time All-American Tanya Williams. In that span, every Irish women’s University record was broken.” (UND.com)
**UPDATE**
The University of Notre Dame released their official statement naming Tim Welsh as the Interim Head Coach as they search for a long-term replacement.
“I feel confident that Tim will be able to step into this interim role at Notre Dame and make it as much of a seamless transition as it can be for our women’s swimmers,” says Notre Dame Vice President and Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick. “Tim knows the program and, just as important, he knows and understands Notre Dame.”
“In one sense I had been looking forward to stepping away from the day-to-day challenges of coaching, and yet I truly look forward to this assignment,” says Welsh. “I’ve obviously worked closely with Brian the last half-dozen years, so I have a familiarity with the team. The program has made great strides in recent years, and I hope I can help lead that group to continued success.”
Tim Welsh is a great man! From someone who just spent a week with him last week at the ASCA Clinic doing the Fellows program!
Looks to me like somebody lit up the “Bat Signal”.
DR. EVIL HAS SPOKEN!!!
I have had some of my swimmers swim under Tim and they loved him and swam great. The girls will be just fine.
The writing on the wall was here from the start. Did anyone really think Tim WASN’T going to be named the coach? Come on man………………..
Best wishes to Coach Brian Barnes – edit!
GREAT solution to a difficult situation. Best wished to Coach Brian Barnes. Best wishes to Coach Tim Welsh and the ND Women’s Swimming and Diving team. GO IRISH!!!
Apparently official announcement has been made.
This was extremely rude and insensitive of you all to post seeing as the women’s team hasn’t even been notified yet. This has been a very difficult time for them and hearing from a source such as yourselves and not from their own administration is not how this should have happened.
“Rude and insensitive?” I remember when swimmers used to be mentally tough. Lol. If the administrators were so benevolent…they WOULD have told the swimmers already. As far as I see, SwimSwam is doing the swimmers a favor by sharing with them the info that the administrators are withholding.
Anyway, enough touchy s*** about feelings, let’s talk swimming.
Welsh is a great guy, great coach, very kind. How long has it been since he’s coached women? While I’m sure he’s more than capable, coaching men and coaching women are VERY different, both in the water and out of it. I’m actually curious to see how this goes. Especially with recruiting.
If anyone can do it – why not Tim, the legend?… Read more »
Alright, I think it’s acceptable for some swimmers to be a little more sensitive in times when a beloved coach is leaving. The administration should have told the team before releasing the information to the press, so I don’t think swimswam is at fault, but (coming from experience) it’s VERY jarring to hear of this kind of news in such an impersonal/public way. Swimmers are still tough and mental, but let’s cut a little slack!
Cowgirl Up, Ladies!