SwimSwam Pulse: 63% Like Lopez-VT Hire More Than Taylor-Auburn

SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side, or you can find the poll embedded at the bottom of this post.

Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers which major head coaching hire they like most:

RESULTS

Question: Which new head coach do you think is a better hire?

Almost two-thirds of respondents said they favored Virginia Tech’s hiring of Sergio Lopez as its new head coach over the hiring of Gary Taylor to take over at Lopez’s former team, Auburn.

Lopez was an assistant at Auburn, but wasn’t promoted when Brett Hawke resigned this offseason. Lopez was eventually named head coach at Virginia Tech, while Auburn signed on former NC State assistant Taylor as its new head coach.

Lopez is certainly a bit more of a known commodity. He has previous head coaching experience at West Virginia, and made a name for himself coaching a stellar group at the Bolles School in Florida as well as heading up Singapore’s high performance center prior to his assistant stint at Auburn.

Taylor is younger, but follows the pattern quite a few programs have had in hiring on a young, energetic assistant coach from a fast-rising program. Most recently, Virginia saw huge year 1 returns from hiring former NC State assistant Todd Desorbo as its head coach.

 

Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Pollwhich asks voters which summer meet is most exciting to them heading into the long course season:

For which summer championship meet are you most excited?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

legend-long-2

ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE

A3 Performance is an independently-owned, performance swimwear company built on a passion for swimming, athletes, and athletic performance. We encourage swimmers to swim better and faster at all ages and levels, from beginners to Olympians.  Driven by a genuine leader and devoted staff that are passionate about swimming and service, A3 Performance strives to inspire and enrich the sport of swimming with innovative and impactful products that motivate swimmers to be their very best – an A3 Performer.

The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner

7
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

7 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Michael
5 years ago

Dressel, Schooling, Murphy. Just to name a few. Lopez FTW.

Samuli Hirsi
5 years ago

as you like making spreadsheets and such, maybe do study how many commenters have ever liked any hires, like in Stanford or Cal come first to mind….

Doc4aday
Reply to  Samuli Hirsi
5 years ago

let’s give it 24-36 months and readdress this to see who made the most difference….Lopez vs. Taylor. My gut feeling tells me that the poll will fall far more favorable to Taylor in that Auburn will be moving near or to the top of the SEC. Lopez may be an excellent coach, but WV will be a much tougher sell for elite swimmers to sign on with compared to Auburn.

Swammer
5 years ago

Crazy pic with Duncan behind Lopez

Swack
Reply to  Swammer
5 years ago

Came here to say this haha. He’s been eyeing that Aub spot for a while now

sanholo
5 years ago

Taylor is the better hire. Period

Observer
Reply to  sanholo
5 years ago

I was about to post my opinion, but after you said “PERIOD” the only thing left to do is apologize, you clearly holds the absolute truth.
In fact, Swim Swam shouldn’t post anything before consulting with you, oh all mighty Sanholo.

About Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson swam for nearly twenty years. Then, Jared Anderson stopped swimming and started writing about swimming. He's not sick of swimming yet. Swimming might be sick of him, though. Jared was a YMCA and high school swimmer in northern Minnesota, and spent his college years swimming breaststroke and occasionally pretending …

Read More »