USA Swimming Names Coaching Staff for 2023 Worlds; Anderson Subs for DeSorbo

USA Swimming has announced the coaching staff for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. Bob Bowman, the head coach of the men’s and women’s teams and pro group at Arizona State, and Carol Capitani, the head coach of the women’s team at Texas, were previously named to lead the men’s and women’s teams, respectively.

They will be joined by 8 assistant coaches who were announced on Saturday evening: Ron AitkenBlaire Anderson, Carol CapitaniCory ChitwoodBraden HollowayRay LoozeGreg Meehan, Anthony Nesty, and Eddie Reese.

Of the 10 coaches, 9 come from collegiate programs. The exception is Ron Aitken, the head coach of the Sandpipers of Nevada, which is the hottest youth program in the country right now.

Two colleges are represented by two coaches each: both the women’s head coach (Capitani) and the men’s head coach (Reese) from the University of Texas were selected for the staff. At Indiana, head coach Looze and associate head coach Chitwood were chosen.

Chitwood is one of two associate head coaches going to the meet. Blaire Anderson from Virginia will attend, though unlike in Chitwood’s case, her boss Todd DeSorbo is not on the staff.

DeSorbo told SwimSwam on Saturday that he wanted to spend more time with his kids this summer after two summers away.

He’s also using the time to “reset for a bit in preparation for the upcoming Olympic year.”

“I want to make sure I am 100% ready, excited, and energized to support our team to success in the lead up to Paris,” DeSorbo said. “I talked to the team about this a couple months ago and they support and respect it. The athletes we coach are amazing people, we have an amazing staff, at UVA and the USA, they’ll be well taken care of.

“Blaire is a kick ass coach that works closely with all our athletes and has earned the honor to rep the US at Worlds. I’m excited for the opportunity for Blaire, the UVA women, and the US team, and thankful to (National Team Director) Lindsay (Mintenko) and Carol (Capitani) for supporting that.

“Looking forward to killing it in Paris.”

Aitken and Chitwood are both named specifically to the open water staff, though the convenience of having both pool and open water swimmers in Fukuoka could bring added value.

  • (Men’s head coach) Bob Bowman, head coach, Arizona State – Lindsay Looney, Regan Smith (pro), Olivia Smoliga (pro), Dylan Gravley, Ryan Held, Chase Kalisz
  • (Women’s head coach) Carol Capitani, head coach, Texas – Leah Smith (pro), Lydia Jacoby
  • Ron Aitken, head coach, Sandpipers of Nevada – Katie Grimes, Bella Sims, Claire Weinstein (OPEN WATER HEAD COACH)
  • Blaire Anderson, associate head coach, University of Virginia – Kate Douglass, Maxine Parker, Alex Walsh, Gretchen Walsh
  • Braden Holloway, head coach, NC State – Katherine Berkoff, Rhyan White (recent addition to pro), Ross Dant
  • Ray Looze, head coach, Indiana – Mariah Denigan, Lilly King (pro), Anna Peploski, Josh Matheny
  • Greg Meehan, head coach, Stanford – Torri Huske
  • Anthony Nesty, head coach, Florida – Katie Ledecky (pro), Bobby Finke, Brennan Gravley, Jake Mitchell, Kieran Smith
  • Eddie Reese, head coach, Texas – Shaine Casas (pro), Carson Foster, Luke Hobson, David Johnston
  • Cory Chitwood, associate head coach, Indiana – Mariah Denigan, Lilly King (pro), Anna Peploski, Josh Matheny (OPEN WATER ASSISTANT COACH)
  • Ron Aitken, head coach, Sandpipers of Nevada – Katie Grimes, Bella Sims, Claire Weinstein (OPEN WATER HEAD COACH)

Athletes listed are athletes at those programs, not necessarily that they swim directly in that coach’s training group most of the time. There are several commits to college programs listed above, but those athletes have not been included.

There are no coaches from the newly-combined Cal squad, in spite of putting five on the team (Jack Alexy, Destin Lasco, Dare Rose, and pros Abbey Weitzeil, Ryan Murphy, and Hunter Armstrong). Carmel Swim Club, another top club program, put two on the roster (Drew Kibler as a pro and 16-year-old Alex Schackell).

USA Swimming sent only 5 assistants last year.

With two women on the pool coaching staff (Capitani and Anderson), this likely marks the first time that the US has sent two women to the World Aquatics Championships as part of its pool swimming coaching staff.

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Curious
1 year ago

Shouldn’t Matt King be listed with the UVA crew since he’s supposedly going back there?

NW Coach
Reply to  Curious
1 year ago

He currently represents Texas Ford and will be there through 2024, I’m guessing that’s why he’s not listed as Virginia.

Just sayin’
1 year ago

Blaire Bachman?

Greg
Reply to  Just sayin’
1 year ago

Bachman is her maiden name

Athlete
1 year ago

There is at least one athlete in the recruiting window. How does this work with being coached by all of these college coaches and NCAA rules?

oxyswim
Reply to  Athlete
1 year ago

College coaches just can’t have recruiting conversations with them on the trip.

Gulliver’s Swimming Travels
1 year ago

Guys, Brett Hawke is ranting on his IG reels about how MA was cheated. Does this guy somehow own stock in that family?

NCSwimFan
Reply to  Gulliver’s Swimming Travels
1 year ago

Brett Hawke cares more about 50s than he cares about seeing young swimmers have success and opportunity.

Can’t Touch This
Reply to  Gulliver’s Swimming Travels
1 year ago

I’m laughing so hard at his insta right now 😂😂
Very happy for Henry McFadden making the worlds roster!

chickenlamp
Reply to  Gulliver’s Swimming Travels
1 year ago

BH is a miserable, angry person all of the time.

Can’t Touch This
1 year ago

No Peter Andrew? I thought they were gonna revolutionize the sport tho

Curious
Reply to  Can’t Touch This
1 year ago

Could it be that he’s the reason MA wasn’t selected (i.e., w/ no MA, no need to add PA as a coach).

VASWAMMER
1 year ago

That’s a lot of coaches..seems a bit much. And Meehan for one swimmer and no coach for Cal?

Former Big10
Reply to  VASWAMMER
1 year ago

USA swimming paying for these bloated staffs instead of WUG roster, lol

Lap Counter
Reply to  VASWAMMER
1 year ago

I was thinking same thing about no coach for Cal! If Durden didn’t want to attend, he doesn’t currently have a mens assistant and female on staff is a novice and maybe not even there yet? Marsh might be going for Israel? Just speculating!

SwimmerTX
Reply to  Lap Counter
1 year ago

I assume Kim Williams was back in Berkeley this week to work with the current team training on campus over the summer. Durden, Bowe, and Marsh were all on deck in Indy.
Bowe said in the podcast he and the family are moving out to AA pretty soon after this meet. Marsh is working with the Israeli team.

AndyEggsfromGA
1 year ago

According to sources close to Bret Hawk, Peter Andrew may get a “special assist role” as their are no Sprint Coaches on staff

john
Reply to  AndyEggsfromGA
1 year ago

there also isn’t a relay expert. peter andrew makes some KILLER lineups

Oops!
Reply to  john
1 year ago

Ask Ray Looze about relay line-ups!

emma
Reply to  john
1 year ago

MA swims on a team of one – how many relay lineups would his father have even gotten to make?

Bobthebuilderrocks
1 year ago

Why is Ress listed under NC State did I miss something?

Snarky
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
1 year ago

He is an alum

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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