Texas A&M to Combine Men’s and Women’s Swimming Programs
Texas A&M will combine the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, the school announced on Friday.
The decision comes with regime changes on deck and upstairs. The action was taken by athletic director Trev Alberts, who was hired last month. It also comes with the retirement of women’s coach Steve Bultman after 25 years. Jay Holmes remains the head coach of the men’s team.
The university will create a new Director of Texas A&M Swimming and Diving position, “that would lead both programs moving forward.” The school has contracted a search firm to conduct the hiring.
The move is following the prevailing trend in NCAA swimming to unite programs as a way to pool resourses, including facilities use, coaching and recruiting. Just this week, the University of Texas used the opening of long-time men’s coach Eddie Reese retiring to hire Bob Bowman as the director of swimming and diving, an umbrella position in which he would lead the men’s program and contribute to Carol Capitani’s efforts with the Longhorn women’s team.
The Aggies are both coming off reasonably successful seasons. The men’s team finished 16th at NCAAs. The women were 14th.
