After one year with the Auburn Tigers, freshman Sam Stewart will transfer to the defending NCAA Champions from the University of Texas, sources close to the situation tell us.
Stewart, the younger brother of Georgia All-American Ty Stewart, swam at the NCAA Championships for the Auburn Tigers, where he finished 26th in the 400 IM (3:47.72), 42nd in the 200 back (1:47.54), and 45th in the 200 IM (1:48.16). All three of those times were slower than his previous season bests.
Stewart’s best times in his primary events, denoted as (best time coming to Auburn/best time at Auburn):
- 100 free – (46.66/DNS)
- 200 free – (1:39.46/1:42.45)
- 500 free – (4:28.90/DNS)
- 100 back – (51.22/51.16)
- 200 back – (1:47.85/1:46.10)
- 200 IM – (1:50.68/1:46.48)
- 400 IM – (3:50.42/3:45.33)
Stewart’s biggest improvements in his first year of college swimming came in the IM races, where Texas scored a combined 49 points (all from underclassmen) at last year’s NCAA Championships. Including 200 IM NCAA Champion Will Licon, that was Texas’ second-highest scoring two-event ‘stroke group,’ behind only their butterfliers.
Stewart scored 37 individual points at last year’s SEC Championships, which includes a 6th-place finish in the 400 IM; for Texas, conference scoring is basically irrelevant in the anemic Big 12, so Stewart will fight for a spot on an NCAA roster that had to leave one qualifier home last year.
The Texas men finished 1st at last year’s NCAA Championships, and the Auburn men were 10th.
As a prep, Stewart swam for Crawfish Aquatics in Louisiana and the YMCA Hubfins in Mississippi.
As I know a few swimmers that have swam under Hawke, they have all said the same, he only cares about the pros and not the actual program. These teams have been on a downhill spiral ever since Marsh left and with Hawke at the helm it will not get better.
It’s time to look elsewhere. There are several coaches at the college and club level that could turn this program around.
CONFUSEDFAN never said that Stewart didn’t drop time. He said that most swimmers that stay under Hawke’s program don’t improve much after their freshman year. Take your own advice and read his comment before you get all upset.
Another top recruit from two years ago has had enough and has left the program – how many is that this year Coach Hawke?
I hear that Auburn’s Jacob Molacek left the team in early May.
I know that Sam’s a smart guy, and whatever decision he’ll make will be for the best. Anyone can speculate whether the coaching staff at Auburn is bad or not, but in the end, this was Sam’s decision and no one else’s. I wish the best of luck to Sam at UT.
I couldn’t agree more, Sam is a smart guy that’s why he will be swimming for Eddie. Regarding the coaching staff at Auburn – they are a bunch of pretenders with no real “coaching” expertise. Hawke is more interested in coaching his “pros” then coaching his swimmers. The rest of them with the exception of Coach Lauren are all a joke. They don’t inspire greatness, and like the guy at the top just grind away at the swimming hopes and dreams of the young men and women who have mistakenly placed their future in the wrong hands. I challenge all of you arm chair swimming experts to do the math, look at the times of the swimmers who came into… Read more »
CONFUSEDFAN, read the article. It says his times before and while at Auburn were:
200 back – (1:47.85/1:46.10)
200 IM – (1:50.68/1:46.48)
400 IM – (3:50.42/3:45.33)
Those are time drops. So apparently Sam did get faster at Auburn. You don’t have to like the Auburn coaching staff but could you at least be accurate with your criticism.
CONFUSEDFAN never said that Stewart didn’t drop time. He said that most swimmers that stay under Hawke’s program don’t improve much after their freshman year. Take your own advice and read his comment before you get all upset.
Good luck to this talented young man, he will get faster at UT for sure!!!
I hear that more than 7 other Auburn swimmers want to transfer, they are holding out for the Head Coach to get fired!!! Watch this space either way we are going to AU in the spotlight!!!!
I don’t know anything about the coaching staff at auburn but I’m happy to see my FRIEND reaching and trying to do what’s best for him. Whatever decisions he makes I will back him to the fullest. I hope everything works out for him and he finds the right place for him. Besides Texas seems like a great choice for him. I guess I have to get a Texas swimming cap with your name on it now. ????Much love, buddy
I believe Sam took a recruiting trip to Texas but opted for Auburn because he did not see where he fit into the Texas roster. I don’t think Eddie invites or offers slots to kids that don’t fit though. Looks like he eventually got him albeit a year later. Best of luck.
Great to see former teammate of mine transferring to an excellent program!(not that auburn is a bad program) but best of luck to him at UT! Go Crawfish
Stewart was coached by the recently departed John Hargis to great success, if you look at the times headlining this article. I wish Sam the best of luck, but he’s not leaving Auburn because he didn’t improve.
That’s what I like to hear!!???????????? #HargisForPres #MakePITTgreatagain #Jonzoooocomingtotown