Swim Talk A2B with Dana Abbott and Bob Button Dana Abbott and Bob Button
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Contemporary topics and issues on competitive swimming are discussed by two experienced USA swim coaches and authors, with special guests most episodes, ranging from high school and college/club coaches to world-record holders and Olympians from various countries.
Email us at: swimtalk@outlook.com
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Swim Talk A2B - Episode 47: Camp Longhorn's Bill Robertson
Former UT swimmer and now GM of famed Camp Longhorn in Burnet, Texas, Bill Robertson shares stories about his swimming career, his mom and dad, and the creation of legendary CAMP LONGHORN, one of the many creations of his father, "Tex" Robertson, the first swim coach at The University of Texas, also known as "the father of Texas swimming".
A fascinating book about Tex, written by his grandson, is called simply "TEX: The Father of Texas Swimming", and details can be found at the end of this description.
Bill was a sophomore on Eddie Reese's first team at Texas, and during his 3 years under Reese, the team finished at NCAAs in a tie for 21st, 2nd, and was NCAA Champions the third year. Quite a climb, and Bill shares some fascinating stories about that and a myriad of other topics.
Sit back and have a listen!
Timeline:
00:00 – Disclaimer & banter
01:40 – Introducing Camp Longhorn’s Bill Robertson
03:18 – Swimming with Tex Robertson
05:03 – HOF: How it started
10:15 – HOF: How it’s going
11:28 – Missing Sam Kendricks
12:28 – Legendary Camp Longhorn
14:55 – Pat Hudson Robertson
16:53 – Coming back for more
18:08 – Highland Lakes Challenge
19:20 – Tex: The Father of Texas Swimming
21:15 – The Who’s Who of swimming coaches
22:55 – Steve Hamm
24:37 – Dr. Steve Montgomery & Bob Leland
25:15 – High school invites in Burnet
26:53 – Bill Rob’s smooth freestyle
27:52 – Carol Borgmann Robertson
29:05 – More Camp Longhorn
33:20 – Ninth Year Ring
34:27 – Tex flies the staff to NCAA’s
35:30 – Everybody’s famous at camp
36:56 – KP = Kitchen Patrol
39:50 – More on Pat
41:14 – Splash Magazine & TAGS
41:37 – Emmett Hines
42:32 – Team building & The Mile
44:04 – The Blob
48:50 – Aqua-Carnivals
51:31 – Gregory Gym to Texas Swim Center
52:43 – Patterson to Reese
55:43 – Great coaches & teammates
57:47 – Chris Del Conte (CDC)
58:28 – Reese to Bowman
59:59 – Wrapping it up
Links to topics mentioned:
"TEX: The Father of Texas Swimming", is available on Amazon and in many online and brick/mortar bookstores:
https://www.amazon.com/Tex-Father-Swimming-Ross-Lucksinger/dp/1492214922
CAMP LONGHORN -
Swim Talk A2B - Episode 46: TCU's Richard Sybesma
Behind the scenes at TCU with the highly entertaining and successful coach of Texas Christian University for 38 years, Richard Sybesma. More discussion topics than you could shake a Navy SEAL telephone pole at! See Bob's timeline below (and the links that follow the timeline, mentioned in this eye-opening episode) for a wide-ranging chronicle of this Horned Frog mentor and cheerleader.
Email Swim Talk A2B: swimtalk@outlook.com
Timeline:
00:00– Disclaimer & banter
01:47– Introducing TCU’s Richard Sybesma
02:55– Getting started Andrews, Texas
05:23– On to Texas Tech
07:58– Coaching start in Monahans
09:22– TCU: Right Place/Right Time
11:37– Sticking with the Horned Frogs
13:15– Remembering the AIAW years
15:25– ’96 Atlanta w/Walter Soza
16:22– ’02 Salt Lake City torch runner
17:05– Conference USA All-Sport COTY
18:06– Nathan Lin signing at TCU
19:18– Facility: Doing more with less
20:24– Into the Big XII
21:15– New facility on the horizon?
22:04– It can be done: Forest Park Pool
24:01– Fort Worth Swimming Frogs
26:54– Balmorhea State Park Pool
29:20– International travel & connections
32:11– Richard’s Coaching Family Tree
35:30– Dana’s UT assistant years
37:52– Look like an athlete!
38:40– Sneaking fun into the work & travel
41:15– Altitude/Attitude
42:45– Navy SEAL Training
44:18– Lessons & water safety
46:35– Retirement = Work
48:13 – Wrapping it up
Link to Nathan Lin YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/5KRqeDzwNP4?si=7sjo1z7vfek2iIqb
"Former TCU Swim Coach Richard Sybesma Teaches Underserved Kids How to Swim":
https://fwtx.com/news/features/former-tcu-swim-coach-richard-sybesma-teaches-underserved-ki/
"Program Helps Kids In and Out of Pool" (2015)
https://gofrogs.com/news/2015/7/28/Program_Helps_Kids_In_and_Out_of_Pool -
Swim Talk A2B - Episode 45: Indiana State's Josh Christensen
Continuing to rebuild and improve the women-only team for the Indiana State Sycamores (the "Fighting Trees"), Josh shares his story and the current state of affairs at the mighty state school in Terre Haute.
Mentions and links:
Indiana State Swimming
https://gosycamores.com/sports/womens-swimming-and-diving
Email Coach Josh Christensen
Joshua.Christensen@indstate.edu
3S Super Sport Systems
https://supersportsystems.com/
Order Sycamore Swimming apparel HERE:
https://shop.gosycamores.com/collections/swimming-diving
Podcast timeline:
00:00 – Disclaimer & banter
01:53 – ASCA plug
02:21 – Introducing ISU’s Josh Christensen
02:40 – Sycamore roundball
04:25 – Josh’s start in the sport
06:33 – Any adjustments from D-II to D-I?
07:48 – Missouri Valley Conference
09:38 – Where does ISU recruit?
11:22 – Facilities
13:05 – Will the men’s program return?
14:01 – Fundraising & NIL
14:56 – Local high schools & clubs
16:17 – Rose-Hulman brainiacs
16:46 – Pros & Cons of men/women
20:07 – Early season
20:51 – Super Sport Systems (3S)
26:00 – Building the roster
29:33 – ISU & academics
30:50 – Supporting the program
34:30 – Wrapping it up -
Swim Talk A2B - Episode 44: Longhorn Legend Darrell Fick, Texas One Fund
We visited with former UT All American and team captain Darrell Fick (UT Class of 1978) on his background, UT experience, and his coaching path from Alief ISD to First Colony, to women's coach at USC working alongside Peter Daland. Much information about the NIL and the Texas One Fund, and how YOU can help your alma mater or favorite swimming program.
Timeline courtesy of Texas Swimming:
00:00 – Disclaimer & limited banter
01:48 – Eddie Reese Audiobook excerpts
02:38 – New Chuck Warner Books Offer
04:04 – Introducing Darrell Fick
04:22 – Darrell’s start in swimming
05:52 – Texas years & new pool
07:56 – Coaching start in Alief
09:00 – First Colony
10:50 – Love of the sport
11:55 – Texas Senior Circuit
14:50 – NIL & Texas One Fund
19:59 – Agent involvement
22:48 – NIL in high school
26:34 – Coaching Deals
27:23 – Athlete Deals
28:10 – Swim Center bulkhead
29:23 –Texas One Fund & rule changes
31:22 – Branding & Open Doors
33:30 – Swimnerd pace clocks
34:23 – HOKA shoes
36:26 – Katy Tigers & summer leagues
37:31 – Eddie’s successor?
38:20 – Working around schedules
39:25 – NIL compliance
40:42 – Moving to the SEC
42:32 – Conference meet emphasis
44:44 – NCAA Portal & free agency
46:22 – RIP NCAA?
48:55 – Getting the 400 IM home
50:51 – Wrapping it up
51:19 – Support your school’s fund -
Swim Talk A2B - Episode 43: Jennifer LaMont, ASCA CEO
Jennifer LaMont became ASCA CEO in 2021, swam her HS years in Ohio for Walnut Hills HS, and club at the Cincinnati Marlins under Denny Pursley (a former guest on SwimTalk) and Frank Busch before heading west to become a USC Trojan. She was a HS state champion at WHHS, and a collegiate All American at USC. Her leadership at ASCA is taking the coaching organization in new and expanded directions, and we think to great heights. You WILL enjoy this visit with Jennifer LaMont!
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Swim Talk A2B - Episode 42: Scott Hammond
Former head coach at Tulane, Ohio, and NC State, as well as assistant to Bob Boettner at Clemson and the legendary Eddie Reese at Texas, veteran NCAA coach Scott Hammond covers a wide-ranging cornucopia of topics with our stalwart hosts, from his beginning days as a young multi-sport athlete to his storied NCAA coaching career. Check the timeline below and prepare to be wowed with his experience and star-studded tales. His tongue-in-cheek goal for this episode was to be better than his close friend, Chuck Warner ("America's Best Swimming Author"). Let us know what you think at swimtalk@outlook.com
00:00 - Disclaimer & the usual banter
01:27 - The Jay Cafe in Needville, Texas
01:45 - Is this thing on?
02:26 - RIP John Pittington
02:42 - Introducing Scott Hammond
04:15 - How Scott got into our sport
06:35 - Any hope for Clemson reboot?
07:25 - From Clemson to Austin
09:27 - Orange/White Meets
11:25 - Then & Now
16:06 - RIP Don Easterling
17:58 - Braden Holloway
23:14 - Chuck Raburn, Richard Sybesma, & Beverly Ball
24:54 - Racquetball & more with Eddie Reese
28:11 - Impact of coaches
29:57 - Future of conferences
31:55 - Transfer Portal & NIL
34:47 - Recruiting, poaching, and foreign athletes
37:49 - Life as a Texas assistant coach
45:30 - H&L Swim Academy
47:17 - Glenn Patton
48:25 - RIP Sam Freas
49:47 - Katy's Sheila Reeves
51:30 - Coaching over the decades
54:00 - Sprint Championship
55:40 - Equipment builders
57:10 - What's in a name?
59:52 - Closing it out