Texas Christian University (TCU) director of intercollegiate athletics Chris Del Conte has announced the hiring of Sam Busch as the Horned Frogs’ new head swimming and diving coach.
Busch replaces Richard Sybesma, who retired after 38 years at TCU.
Busch has served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Virginia the last four years. He was instrumental in the UVa women’s team earning a No. 1 national ranking and winning three consecutive ACC Championships (2014-16). The UVa women finished fifth at the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Championships. The Cavaliers set 18 women’s school records and 10 men’s marks under Busch.
“My dream has always been to become a head coach for a team that I believe in and one that believes in me. I fell in love with this campus and the community of Fort Worth. I just want to continue the tradition that coach Sybesma built and advance our levels in the Big12,” Busch told Swimming World.
“We are very excited to welcome Sam to the TCU family and Fort Worth. TCU is a destination in collegiate athletics. We had a lot of interest in this position. The search process confirmed to us how special and desired it is to be at TCU and how we’re viewed across the country. Sam is a perfect fit for us. He comes from a tradition-rich Virginia program in which he played a major role in their recruiting and team success. He is also part of a great family coaching tree. We have no doubt Sam will have the Horned Frogs Factor in leading our swimming and diving programs,” said Del Conte in a press release.
Before Virginia, Busch served two seasons (2011-13) as an assistant coach at Auburn. He worked primarily with the backstroke and freestyle groups, helping lead the men’s 200 free relay to the 2013 NCAA Championship. The Auburn men posted a pair of top-10 NCAA finishes, including a sixth-place mark in 2012.
“When the opportunity to usher in a new era of TCU swimming and diving was offered to me, I accepted the honor with great enthusiasm and heartfelt gratitude,” Busch said. “To work with one of the country’s great athletic directors in Chris Del Conte is beyond fortunate.
“Thank you to Chris and senior associate athletics directors Jack Hesselbrock, Gretchen Bouton and Mike Sinquefield for their attention and consideration during this process. I am so humbled to become a part of the tremendous athletics success at TCU and am already at work trying to make sure I am worthy of the confidence that has been placed in me. Go Frogs!”
Busch also had coaching stops at West Virginia (2009-11) and Arizona (2007-09).
A 2008 graduate of Arizona, Busch assisted five seasons at Tucson Ford Aquatics, the 2010 National Club Champions. Additionally, he served three years as head coach of the women’s program at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson.
Busch’s father, Frank Busch, recently retired as USA Swimming’s National Team Director. Frank Busch led Team USA to 64 medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. He was also a six-time NCAA Coach of the Year during his 22 seasons at Arizona, where he led the Wildcats to men’s and women’s national championships in 2008. Sam Busch’s brother, Augie Busch, was the head coach at Virginia the last four years and is now the head coach at Arizona.
CURRENT TCU ROSTER
Photo Courtesy: TCU
Photo Courtesy: TCU
TCU contributed to this story.
Please tell me this is a practical joke?
Agreed
Gail Landreth – great news for TCU!
Yay! Another great sport to support at TCU! Maybe we’ll get a Daniell or two here someday??
Congrats Sam!
Awesome news!
What a wonderful partnership: Sam Busch and TCU! Congratulations Sam, and well done TCU.