Currently, in the middle of his Olympic Redshirt year, Notre Dame’s Joshua Brown has entered the transfer portal. Brown competed for the US at Open Water Worlds last month in Doha.
Brown has been training at the Sandpipers of Nevada during his Olympic redshirt season. During this time he says, “my horizons have been expanded to a new style of training that is something I want to incorporate into the future of my swimming career. I have re-found my love and passion for the sport thanks to Coach Ron (Aitken) and hope to find a university that is able to help me build upon this.”
Brown also told SwimSwam that the new style of training has been “a more holistic approach with a slight focus on distance and open water swimming.”
Brown spent two seasons at Notre Dame. During his freshman season, he swam a best time of a 15:04.02 in the 1650 free at the ACC Championships to finish 6th. He also swam a personal best of in the 500 free in a 4:23.67 during prelims.
As a sophomore, Brown finished 12th in the 1650 free at ACCs swimming a 15:16.06.
Just last month, Brown represented the USA at 2024 Worlds as he competed as an open-water swimmer. In Doha, Brown was the fastest American in the men’s 5k swimming a 53:23.90 for 24th. He also was 42nd in the 10k swimming a 1:46:40.30.
Brown’s SCY times progression:
| HS Best | Freshman | Sophomore |
Olympic Redshirt W SAND
|
|
| 500 free | 4:25.86 | 4:23.67 | 4:24.07 | 4:16.62 |
| 1650 free | 15:10.76 | 15:04.02 | 15:16.06 | 14:48.57 |
| 400 IM | 3:56.12 | 3:58.44 | 3:58.69 | 3:52.50 |
Brown had some success his freshman year and was just off of them his sophomore year, but this Olympic redshirt year has been a huge success for Brown as he has made significant drops in all three of his best events.
With his progression, Brown would have made the NCAA cutline in the 1650 freestyle this season as the cutline fell at a 14:54.92. The cutline has only been above the 15-minute mark once in the last five seasons.
His departure is from a Notre Dame program on the rise. The team finished 8th at last year’s ACC Championships, but this year rose all the way to 2nd, and are projected for a program-best 10th place finish at this year’s NCAA Championships. The program’s 18th-place finish at last year’s NCAA Championship meet was the best for the men’s squad in history.
Brown is originally from Winter Park, Florida, just outside of Orlando.
The NCAA Transfer Portal will become available to men’s Division I swimmers & divers on Wednesday, March 20. From there, with a few exceptions, student-athletes will have 45 days to enter the portal in order to be eligible to compete at a new school next season.
While they have 45 days to enter the portal, there is no deadline on making a decision, and student-athletes are able to return to their current program after entering the portal. Entering the portal allows them to discuss the possibility of a transfer with coaches from other schools.
NC State to train with Bethlehem Gallant, Lloyd, and Norris wouldn’t be such a bad idea
Looks like ever since Kam Chastain took over the distance program everything has gone down hill.
Maybe for the men
Florida, ASU, IU?
maybe NC State, I don’t think they’ve developed open water swimming like those three have
IU and Cory C are all in on open water. ASU, Florida other schools fake it like they care but they don’t. The athletes are on their own to figure it out.
IU
sounds like he’s going to be a Gator
Seems reasonable. ND distance isn’t really a thing since my goat Hoagland transferred to the motherland
Actually, are there any D1 college team that is currently incorporating open water swimming into their training?
Few years back there was a video about USC’s open water practice(s). But I think they were more about team building and meant to be fun at the start of the season.
Pretty sure USC but could be different California school
One of the USC Assistant Coaches was a big time USA Swimming Open Water coaches, but I believe she has since moved on.
IU does