Background[]
- Swimming coach at University of Arizona to May 2011, then to USA Swimming to lead the swimmers from United States (also known as USA)
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Quotes[]
Frank Busch, a coach, said about Dara Torres in July 2008:[]
- "I don't know what you even compare it to," says men's assistant coach Frank Busch of Torres's performance. "I don't know that people really grasp what that means. She's obviously talented, but determined? The sacrifices she's made? At 41 years of age?"
Links[]
Media[]
- http://azstarnet.com/sports/college/wildcats/article_78fccb31-d850-5fc4-93ef-a244d96deeec.html Article about the program from 2011, after winning nationals.
Insights[]
2010 US Nationals Article[]
Frank Busch's traveling party numbers 32 swimmers, about 80 percent of whom swim for his Arizona Wildcats.
The crew arrived in Irvine, Calif., in August 2010 to compete in the summer's most important event - the USA Swimming National Championships.
"In our sport," the UA coach said, "this is a big deal."
Here's a breakdown of the event and the Wildcats' innumerable ties to it:
What: The USA Swimming National Championships
Where: The William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, Calif, in August 2010.
What's on the line: In addition to a national championship, the event serves as trials for international meets. Results will determine the Pan-Pacific team for a meet in mid-August, as well as next summer'sWorld University Games and World Championships.
Wildcats to watch: Fresh off his NCAA championship swim in the 200-yard backstroke, Cory Chitwood will swim in Irvine.
"He'll be someone who's going to be a force," Busch said.
Plus: Amanda Beard, the UA graduate who won seven medals during four Olympiads, is again training with Busch in Tucson.
The new mother will compete this week, days after a New York Times story detailing her former problems with cutting herself as a way of coping with stress.
"She's doing great," Busch said about Beard. "She's as happy as I've ever seen her. Swimming's not the most important thing in her life, and she's excited about that."
Freestyler Alyssa Anderson and recent graduate Clark Burckle "will have some good swims and will have a chance to make some national (teams)," Busch said.
He said postgraduate participants in his training program motivate his UA swimmers.
"In the summertime, when everybody's training together, it gives them an opportunity to be around great people that are highly motivated,"Busch said.
Details[]
Named as coach for USA Swimming in January 2011[]
University of Arizona swimming and diving head coach Frank Busch has accepted a position with USA Swimming as its National Team Director. A six-time NCAA Coach of the Year, Busch will continue his coaching duties at Arizona through the end of the 2010-2011 season before beginning his new role with USA Swimming in May 2011.
“I am incredibly proud that I have been able to call myself a coach for the University of Arizona these past 22 years,” said Busch. “My relationships with the athletes, coaches and the community have been priceless. But this is a unique opportunity to continue my work with swimmers and coaches at every level of our sport. I'll be working with a terrific organization and I can't wait to be a part of the leadership and direction of USA Swimming.”
In his 22 seasons at Arizona, Busch guided the Wildcats’ program to unprecedented heights, including winning NCAA Division I National Championships on both the men’s and women’s sides in 2008.
Since taking over the program in 1989, Busch’s swimmers have won 48 individual national championships, 31 relay championships and have finished among the nation’s top-five teams on 25 occasions (15 for women, 10 for men.) Beginning in 1991, at least one UA swimmer on either the men’s or women’s side has won an individual NCAA championship in each of the last 20 seasons.
In addition to his team’s athletic accomplishments at Arizona, Busch’s athletes have consistently garnered praise for their prestigious academic accomplishments and community service, both in Tucson and nationally. Recently, three of Busch’s swimmers – Whitney Myers in 2007, Lacey Nymeyer in 2009 and Justine Schluntz in 2010 – were lauded as NCAA Woman-of-the-Year winners under his tutelage, while Schluntz was also named a Rhodes Scholar in November of 2009.
“We’re sad to see a coach and person of Frank Busch’s caliber leave our staff,” said director of athletics Greg Byrne. “He’s been a tremendous asset to swimming, surely, but moreover to the entire University of Arizona athletics program. It says a lot about our program here at Arizona. I liken it to when Cedric Dempsey left to head the NCAA (in 1994). We appreciate everything Coach Busch has done for the University of Arizona.”
As the executive director of the Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics club team, Busch has produced 34 Olympians who have gone on to win 10 Olympic medals as well as numerous USA individual and relay championships. Most recently at the U.S. National Championships in Irvine, Calif. this past summer, Busch and then-head coach Roric Fink led Tucson Ford Aquatics to the national team championship.
Involved with USA Swimming as a national coach since 1997, Busch has twice served on U.S. Olympic Coaching staffs including the 2004 Olympics in Athens Games and 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In January 2011, Busch was selected to be the head coach of the U.S. women’s 2011 World Championships team in Shanghai, China (also known as CHN) 
, marking the fourth occasion he has served on a World Championships staff.
In his role with USA Swimming as National Team Director, Busch will provide vision and leadership for America’s top coaches and elite athletes, with the focus on performance success at the Olympic Games.
Frank Busch Career Honors
- NCAA Championships (Men’s & Women’s, 2008)
- Men’s NCAA Coach of the Year (1993, 2005, 2006, 2008)
- Women’s NCAA Coach of the Year (2004, 2008)
- 11-time Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year
- United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Coach of the Year (1998)
- USA Swimming Coach of the Year (1998)
- American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Hall of Fame (2008)
Videos[]
Interviews[]
March 2012 from Columbus, Ohio at Grand Prix Meet[]
Frank Busch at the Columbus Grand Prix