After Whirlwind Stretch, Bob Bowman Settling Into New Home on The Forty Acres
To say Bob Bowman has navigated a whirlwind lifestyle for much of 2024 would be an understatement. While the Hall of Fame coach is familiar with an on-the-go approach necessitated by the demands of his sport, the past six months have been especially hectic – albeit in a positive fashion.
Last spring, Bowman guided Arizona State University to its first NCAA team championship, completing a stunning ascent for a program that was once earmarked for deletion. Within days, Bowman left ASU to accept the reins of his dream job, as the Director of Swimming and Diving at the University of Texas. With that move came back-and-forth shuffling between Tempe and Austin, as Bowman sought – as best as possible – to temper the seismic waves of his decision.
While establishing footing in the Texas capital, Bowman simultaneously had to address the impact of his career shift on the pro group he mentored at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. It was a move that came ahead of the United States Olympic Trials and, of course, the Olympic Games in Paris. This move was no three-ball juggling act, but rather one with the psyches, emotions and physical needs of athletes mixed in.
In the leadup to the Olympic summer, Bowman found himself all over the map. His Texas-Arizona line was complemented by trips to Colorado Spring and the United States Olympic Training Center, where his athletes partook in altitude work. Of course, ventures to Indianapolis and Paris upped Bowman’s frequent-flyer miles, and his credentials. The only coach of Michael Phelps, Bowman’s athletes excelled during the Olympic season, headlined by Leon Marchand’s four-gold show at La Defense Arena, an Olympic title by Hubert Kos in the 200 backstroke and a multi-medal haul by Regan Smith.
Of late, the 59-year-old is hardly sitting still. In addition to hitting the recruiting trail, Bowman recently traveled to Philadelphia to serve as a lead speaker at the Eastern States Clinic. Yet, in comparison to his March-to-August agenda, there is a greater sense of calm, and the chance for Bowman to settle into his new home of Austin and at a school that – under the guidance of the legendary Eddie Reese – has won more NCAA titles than any other program in the sport.
“I guess it has slowed down a little,” Bowman said recently, laughing with every word. “There was a lot going on, but I’ve had a chance to get settled in and caught up after the Olympics. Everyone has been so welcoming. One of the things that I’ve found is that the Texas athletic department, particularly the community of head coaches, is very close…The Texas coaches are a tighter group than at other places, always looking to support one another.”
When Bowman accepted his new role at Texas, the first text message he received was from football coach Steve Sarkisian, who has the Longhorns ranked No. 1 in the nation in the latest top-25 polls. Bowman also noted that the monthly meetings of the university’s head coaches are attended by all, and evidence of the supportive environment that exists. There’s also a What’s-App group of coaches that allows the program’s leaders to exchange information and assistance.
Because the Lee & Joe Jamail Swim Center has long been a familiar site for elite competitions in the United States, including the NCAA Championships on a regular basis, Bowman had a good feel for the facilities in Austin. But now that they are fully at his disposal, the coach has a greater understanding for what he can do on The Forty Acres.
Along with Associate Head Coach Erik Posegay, Bowman can utilize the Jamail Swim Center, or send training groups to the outdoor Eddie Reese Pool. Various short-course and long-course options exist, including going with a 15-meter setup when desired. The space available to Bowman offers flexibility when it comes to designing a practice schedule – both for his collegiate squad and the professionals who followed him from Tempe to Austin.
Additional benefits exist, and they are not lost on a man who is detail-oriented and recognizes the importance of the little things.
“Every now and then, I’ll look around and ask, ‘Is this for real?’ It’s that great,” Bowman said. “There are a lot of things that I didn’t even know existed. The meal plan for athletes is hard to explain. It’s restaurant-quality food for all athletes. We have state-of-the-art medical accessibility. Sports science is something we have at Texas that we haven’t had at other places. We have a team of people doing sports science, but it is not through kinesiology. It is solely for the athletic department to improve performance. They are working with us all the time and we get real-time feedback. We do a lot of testing that is sophisticated. Having those types of resources at our disposable has been amazing.”
The Longhorns won 15 NCAA titles during the Reese Era, and Bowman’s plan is to increase that figure. Through the athletes he inherited from the previous roster, along with recruits and transfers, Bowman oversees a squad that will undoubtedly factor in the championship chase when March rolls around. Recruiting for the future has been superb.
As this latest college season starts to pick up, Bowman is eager to show what he can in Burnt Orange. He has fully immersed himself in the Texas way and understands the role of upholding that tradition.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” Bowman said. “I knew the swimming legacy of Texas and what that meant to the sport of swimming. But in the broader sense, being a part of Texas is a special thing. It’s a unique place. Someone asked me, ‘What’s the difference?’ I think the difference is that at Texas, every person in that department matches my passion for excellence. Every level, from the people working in the meal hall to the strength coaches to the admin. Everywhere you go, the expectation is that we’re going to be great. We’re going to be the best, and we’re going to do all we can to make that happen. It’s overwhelming sometimes and a huge responsibility. It’s very cool.”