As USA Swimming heads into a new year with new leadership, something that has been questioned for the future is the way coaches are named for Team USA events. The American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) has voiced concerns about the selection process and transparency within that process.
“ASCA supports bringing a cohesive, diverse, and experienced staff to all international level competitions. We believe the criteria for selection should be communicated openly and made available to all coaches to ensure awareness, understanding and confidence in the process. We recognize the National Team Director holds the responsibility for assembling the coaching staff,” ASCA CEO Jennifer LaMont wrote in a letter to USA Swimming that was shared with Swimming World. “We want to underscore the importance of clearly communicating publicly accessible criteria that are grounded in merit, experience, and the demonstrated ability to drive success at the highest levels of international competition. Transparency will not only enhance the integrity of the selection process but will also inspire confidence among athletes, coaches, and all who are stakeholders in the long-term success of USA Swimming on the global stage.
“A coach selection process that lacks clear, established guidelines erodes trust and fairness within the swimming community. This has been evident in past cases where successful coaches were not selected, and their exclusion went unexplained.”
USA Swimming CEO Shana Ferguson responded to the letter and process, citing changes coming in 2025 and that their objectives are “aligned” with ASCA’s and other committees.
“USA Swimming staff, in conjunction with many key volunteer-led committees, particularly our Athletes’ Advisory Council and National Team Steering Committee, have been discussing coach selection procedure improvements for quite some time, with changes scheduled for the 2025 international meets. Our plan is to continue to collaborate with these key USA Swimming stakeholders to build selection procedures for 2025 and beyond that are comprehensive and fair, and that set us up for success in international competition. After discussing this plan with ASCA and reviewing this response letter, we are happy to see that we are aligned on goals and objectives,” USA Swimming CEO Shana Ferguson said in a prepared statement.
LaMont said the organization is trying to set expectations for the future.
“By establishing transparent criteria, USA Swimming will ensure that coaches know exactly what they are working toward, and that our National Governing Body promotes fairness, accountability, and confidence in the process. A clear selection process will ultimately strengthen Team USA’s performance on the global stage and maintain the integrity and high standards of USA Swimming,” LaMont wrote.