Swim Talk A2B with Dana Abbott and Bob Button Dana Abbott and Bob Button

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

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

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!

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

Bob engages the authors of the internationally acclaimed five-star book, EDDIE REESE: COACHING SWIMMING, TEACHING LIFE in a wide-ranging discussion of inside stories on the creation and production of the January 2024 release of the audiobook version, as well as hearing Chuck's views and perspectives on the last season of Texas Longhorn men's swimming and diving with legendary Coach Eddie Reese at the helm. Over forty minutes of in-depth, behind the scenes GOLD.

Chuck shares the bonus of receiving the audiobook FREE with the purchase of the collectible hardcover edition of ERCSTL, only available at www.areteswim.com, click below for this special offer.

https://www.areteswim.com/product-page/eddie-reese-coaching-swimming-teaching-life-hard-cover

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Episode timeline, courtesy of Stone Cold:



00:00 – Disclaimer & the usual banter

01:45 – Eddie Reese book & special offer

02:15 – Welcome Chuck Warner & post-Covid

03:13 – New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance

04:55 – Why an Audiobook?

06:37 – Getting Eddie on board

08:45 – NCAA D-I rankings & predictions

12:30 – Audiobook logistics

15:55 – Skip this part, Jeri

16:25 – Practice & perform

21:32 – The epilogue & reflections

23:02 – What isn’t in the book?

24:15 – Shaun Jordan’s wardrobe malfunction

28:27 – No volume 2?

29:30 – Educating coaches

32:12 – More on the special offer

33:41 – Eddie’s Last Hurrah

37:00 – Big XII or NCAA reunion?

40:43 – Wrapping it up

An outstanding high school swimmer, Jason Devine did not start coaching until almost 15 years after graduating from Katy (TX) High School. Despite that late start, he progressed in his career on a meteoric rise, earning Gulf Swimming LSC's Age Group Coach of the Year not just once, not twice, but three times.

Approaching 20 years in the coaching world now, Jason has served roles as Head Age Group Coach at Katy Aquatics, DADS Club, and Rice Aquatics. He served as a board member for Gulf Swimming for 6 years and was the TAGS representative for Gulf Swimming for 4 years. He has been selected to be on several Gulf travel teams and has run a clinic for the Gulf LSC.

His passion for coaching and skill-driven teaching methods has earned him recognition as the Gulf LSC Age Group Coach of the Year in 2012, 2015 and 2016. Jason has experience coaching Masters, and Developmental Age Groupers through National level swimmers. Under his coaching his swimmers have excelled at all levels of competitions. Jason has coached swimmers to Jr. National (Winter and NCSA), Sectional, and USA Top 10 recognition every season for 7 years straight while having multiple individual and relay TAGS champions. 

Coach Jason’s highest national ranking for swimmers in his group was the 2017 11-12 girls 200 Free long course relay which finished #1 in the country. 

“I pride myself on connecting with my athletes, teaching, educating and motivating them to reach their full potential in and out of the water. I truly love what I do.”