Scottsdale Aquatic Club recently announced Scott Goodrich as the team’s new head coach & CEO, making the move from his former position as an associate coach at NCAA Division I Texas Christian University (TCU).
The hiring is a return to SAC for Goodrich, who formerly held the position of Lead Coach for the South Scottsdale location before coaching at TCU for the past three years.
“I am very excited to be joining Scottsdale Aquatic Club and to lead such a historically great team. I want to thank the Board of Directors and the entire search committee for this opportunity,” said Goodrich. “My family and I are happy to be coming back to Scottsdale, a place I consider a home in so many ways.”
Goodrich will take over as head coach of SAC after Andrew Nguyen was recently announced as the new head of Rose Bowl Aquatics in California. Nguyen took over the position in August 2021 after the departure of former head coach Kevin Zacher made the move to Santa Clara Swim Club.
“I look forward to working with the SAC athletes, families, and coaches to build upon the culture of excellence that already exists,” added Goodrich. “A strong foundation is in place, and we will continue to work together as a team to help the program reach its full potential,” Goodrich added.
In addition to his time at Scottsdale, Goodrich also has Arizona ties having coached with Mesa Aquatics and as an assistant coach at Arizona State University.
Goodrich was actually the head coach of Sun Devil Swimming briefly before it merged with Mesa in late 2013, after which he head-up a new post-grad group that included Olympic champion and world record holder Cesar Cielo.
Goodrich, who swam alongside Cielo during his career Auburn, coached the Brazilian from 2013 until 2016, leading him to multiple World Championship titles.
As a swimmer, Goodrich was a four-time NCAA champion, seven-time SEC Champion and 10-time All-American while competing for the Tigers, and qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials in 2004 and 2008.
During his time coaching at TCU, Goodrich helped the team have their first NCAA qualifier in over eight years, and led the men (second) and women (third) to top-three finishes at the Big 12 Championships.
The Horned Frogs recently hired Rob Zamorano as their new assistant swimming coach, who will seemingly be taking over for Goodrich.
Goodrich will join the coaching staff of Bob Platt, Laurel Hill, Joey Morgan, Crystal Strimple, and TJ Cheetham, among others. Platt led the search for a new head coach, resulting in the hiring of Goodrich.
