Ozzie Quevedo appears to be doing his best Deion Sanders impression in his first year as the head women’s swimming coach at SMU.
Sources tell SwimSwam that a mass exodus of cuts and transfers have left the former Alabama associate head coach with just seven women remaining on his roster, down from the 34 he started with last fall. And unlike Coach Prime, Quevedo only has a handful of replacements lined up for next season.
About a dozen of the departures are seniors and graduate students who are naturally wrapping up their time in Dallas. But eight women — five juniors and three sophomores, including Texas transfer Jordan Morgan — were cut despite their plans to return next season.
Another group of seven women, including Paraguayan Olympian and two-time NCAA qualifier Luana Alonso, have been off the roster since December due to differences with Quevedo, according to sources close to the program. SMU freshman Madison Patel announced her transfer to Rollins College just before Christmas.
One of the Mustangs’ two individual champions in the pool at February’s American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships, freestyle specialist and 2023 AAC Swimmer of the Year Lucrezia Napoletano, is also in the transfer portal with plans to leave the program. SMU won’t have much time to rebuild before joining the ACC this summer, where powerhouse programs such as Virginia, NC State, Cal, and Stanford will be waiting for the Mustangs.
SMU deputy athletic director Brad Sutton told SwimSwam the roster turnover was “not unexpected” and that evaluating roster size after the season concludes “does not paint an accurate picture.”
“With incoming transfers and freshmen, we expect to have a roster size around 20 in the fall, with a few more possibly joining for the championship season,” Sutton said.
It is unclear how the Mustangs are planning to almost double their roster size over the offseason. They have two high school recruits — Teia Salvino, who flipped her commitment from Alabama, and Summer Osborne, a New Zealand native — after anticipated 2024 prospect Colombia’s Isabella Bedoya joined the roster early during the 2023-24 season. Izzy Krantzcke is slated to arrive as a transfer from Arizona State, but sources indicated that Missouri graduate transfer CJ Kovac will not be swimming for SMU next season as expected, with speculation that she might serve as a graduate assistant instead.
Diving coach Darian Schmidt also recruited three divers to bolster the Mustangs’ roster next season: Sadie Klepfer, Natalie Stubbs, and Reagan Evans. That means the SMU women could only have 13 on their roster next season unless they find more reinforcements in a hurry. The minimum number of participants for an NCAA Division I swimming and diving program is 11.
Quevedo took over the SMU women’s team last year from longtime head coach Steve Collins, who led the program for 37 years. Quevedo’s first recruiting class featured five high school recruits and one transfer. At the time, he called the group “a special one because it will set the foundation for what’s coming next.” Only one swimmer of the six still remains with the Mustangs a year later.
The SMU women placed 2nd at AACs in February behind FIU in Quevedo’s first season at the helm. The Mustangs did not qualify anyone for NCAAs after sending one swimmer last year.
Sutton clarified that any changes to the men’s roster “are just a ‘right-sizing’ of the roster following several years of student-athletes having additional ‘COVID years’ to compete as well as our entry into the ACC” — not Title IX cuts because the women’s roster was decimated.
“It’s a matter of being efficient with our resources — not just fiscal resources, but coaching time as well — in our efforts to build a championship contender,” Sutton said.
it is 2024 Ozzie, learn to coach, this #hit should not fly anymore. Of course success erases this instantly and these women will be written off from history by men, as usual.
How could any female swimmer in the class of 2025 or 2026 consider attending SMU until there is more clarity on whatever just happened? Unless Ozzie has a deep funnel of international swimmers lined up, it could be a long road back to whatever vision he has for SMU.
I have no dog in this fight but…
NCAA athletes- “we want to be paid for the work we do in the pool! We are employees!!”
**athletes get fired/cut for performance or other reasons
NCAA athletes- “nooo not like that!!!”
A reminder that the word “abuse” is not a word that should ever just be thrown around or taken lightly. Unless you have a specific example and/or proof, shame on any of you for using that word.
While it’s a tough pill to swallow, cutting girls who aren’t making their times is not abuse and if you can’t realize that you should be involved in NCAA Division I sports in any capacity.
This wasn’t based on times, if it was I am sure the girls wouldn’t be as mad and this wouldn’t be so controversial. Swimmings a timed sport yet this wasn’t based on that.
Still waiting for that specific example like I said in my initial post.
Having personally survived the Col*y St*ckles bama era, this is sounding awfully familiar. In the end, Coley stepped down (was fired) and bama was left in shambles and has yet to recover. Also Ozzie is one of the most dramatic, fear-mongering coaches I’ve ever interacted with. I feel for those smu girls
Lots of adjectives/name calling but no real examples of how you were so aggrieved by the aforementioned coaches. Maybe you didn’t like their personalities, practices, tone, demeanor…but blaming Coley for leaving Bama in shambles (he left the program as high as it has ever been ranked on men/women) and Ozzie for making cuts is ridiculous. When you rip 2 veteran coaches (Im assuming you had issues w Margo as well) maybe the coaches aren’t necessarily the problem in your case?
No baby the coaches were the problem unfortunately
I grew up with coley and I can tell you it literally shocks me that he is abusive. Not invalidating you at all because where there’s smoke there’s fire and there’s a lot of fire, but I’m sad he turned into an ass. He was funny and respectful as a teen and he has a great mom and sister.
Looks like Ozzie did learn a thing or two from his mentor Coley Stickels…
Just because you are able to produce fast swimmers doesn’t mean you’re qualified to be a head coach. Ozzie remains one of the most dramatic people I’ve ever met in my life and I’m sorry for all the swimmers that were involved in his antics.
Obviously this man is not qualified for the job and he has an abuser cruel style. He is a bully .
How was he abusive? Pretty strong accusation without any evidence
Bully
Well my 2024 daughter had two calls scheduled with him after starting her recruitment worh the previous staff. He simply didn’t attend the calls. When she followed up with him he had a different, lame excuse excuse every time like being stuck in traffic or a meeting.
I think there’s gotta be an understanding that going from the AAC to the ACC requires a culture shift in the organization. The two conferences aren’t on the same level and require a different approach.
THAT SAID….. there’s a right way to do this and wrong way to do this.
I was around during the Kirchner to Looze transition at IU and there was a massive cultural shift from Kris to Ray.
Needless to say, Ray did it right. Sure, there were people who didn’t keep up with Ray’s intensity and and drive, but he never belittled anyone or made anyone not feel like they were being abused. He pushed for excellence and did it the right way.
That’s the opposite of what I’ve heard about Ray
There’s hearing about it and then there’s actually being there…
Ray told the swimmer the truth and some took his advice and some didn’t.
This is completely inaccurate. Ray did it wrong in every way (almost cost him his job)and it was 20 years ago when AD’s/parents/athletes were either more tolerant of cuts, or expectations were different (Or both).
Blizzard of Ozz can’t dismantle a team like this anymore. He will get negative attention to the point where few will want to swim w him. Bowman took a steadier approach early on at ASU and Ozzie did not take notes. Ozz is concerned w his 2 pros and is looking to be immediately relevant at a higher level than SMU is currently at.
Like I said previously, right way to do it and wrong way to do it.
I disagree about Ray, but hey, disagreements are allowed still I think?
But yes, commend Bowman’s approach, slow and steady worked there. He also had the benefit of being Bob Bowman and his name/CV carried a lot of weight. I’m sure the administration bought in to his plan and trusted him with his vision.
That said. Sounds like the environment at SMU is completely different. Look at what they just did with men’s basketball coach! SMU raised over $100M in 3 days after announcing the move to the ACC. Overall, there’s pressure from alumni/boosters to improve everywhere. Did this trickle down to the… Read more »