CLEVELAND, Ohio–Texas A&M head women’s swimming coach and two-time U.S. Olympic coach Steve Bultman was inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame on Thursday at the organization’s 2015 World Clinic.
Bultman, who has coached the Aggies’ program since 1999, was part of a five-person Hall of Fame class that also included Peter Banks (Ireland National Team Director), Joe Bernal (Bernals’ Gator Swim Club, Mass.), Chris Davis (SwimAtlanta, Ga.) and Raymond B. Essick (former executive director of USA Swimming).
“I’ve been a member of the ASCA for more than 40 years, and I’ve seen all the great coaches that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Bultman said. “For me to be included with those names is a great, great honor.”
Bultman served on the U.S. Olympic staff in 1988 and again in 2012, and he served on the Estonia Olympic Team’s staff for the 2008 Games. In addition to coaching a trio of U.S. Olympians from the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club in 1988, he has overseen the development of 10 Olympians at Texas A&M, including three U.S. Olympians.
At Texas A&M, Bultman has directed one of the most dramatic rises to power in college swimming history since taking over the reins of the women’s swimming and diving program at Texas A&M. When Bultman was hired at Texas A&M on June 2, 1999, the Aggies had never finished higher than third at the conference championships or in the top 10 at the national meet. Under Bultman, the Aggies have never finished lower than second at a conference meet and own an eight-year streak of top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
Under his direction, Texas A&M produced its first NCAA individual champions with a pair of wins in 2010 and has generated nine more national champions since those breakthrough victories. Along the way, the Aggies have broken two NCAA, U.S. Open and American records, as well as a numerous Big 12 and Southeastern Conference records. His teams have won four conference team championships and he has been named conference Coach of the Meet or Year 13 times as of 2014.
The Aggies open up home competition on Friday, October 23rd when they take on the University of North Texas.
Swimming news courtesy of Texas A&M Swimming and Diving.
class act! congrats Steve!