Ohio Bobcats Add Zach Closson as New Assistant Swim Coach
California native Zach Closson has been named the Assistant Women’s Swimming Coach at Ohio University for the 2024-25 season. After spending three years as a coach for Mecklenburg Swim Association, Closson was ready to dive back into the collegiate swimming scene. Prior to his time at MSA, Closson was a volunteer assistant swim coach at Bowling Green State University for two years. While at Bowling Green, Closson graduated with a degree in sports management and a minor in business in 2019.
Closson is thrilled to join the Bobcats for the upcoming season.
“I think I’m most excited to just work with really high-level athletes and high-level people and just be around an environment that is very competitive… there’s a level of competitiveness that sets the standard, like that is where we have to be to be the best and to win the conference,” Closson said. “There’s a level of expectation amongst people, there’s a level of excitement and there’s a level of athlete that I’m so excited to be around because that’s the most fun to work with. People who you can push their limits and push them to a different level.”
When asked about his coaching philosophy, Closson made it clear that he is all about building a positive team environment that makes walking into practice every day fun. He wants to support his swimmers and be a part of their developmental journey as athletes and people. He hopes his optimistic energy will be contagious.
In terms of training, Closson writes every practice and set with a purpose. He is always thinking about the benefits that his athletes will get from each workout. Closson adheres to a philosophy of swimming fast in practice. He plans to implement anaerobic-based sets that are geared toward speed and skills.
“The whole point of our sport is to race,” he said. “So why would we not train to go fast?”
When it comes to team culture, Closson is a firm believer that it takes everybody collectively to achieve something special. He emphasizes the importance of everyone on the team being aligned with the same goals so that everybody has something to work toward.
“The teams that win the championships are always the teams where everybody is on the same goal, everybody’s fighting for the same thing,” Closson said.
Head coach Mason Norman expressed his excitement in Closson joining the program.
“I am most excited about Zach’s ability to communicate his passion for learning and the development of the student-athletes, something that he’s really going to add to our staff,” Norman said. “I think that is probably the most valuable.”