Tennessee Volunteers swimming and diving
Encyclopedia
The Tennessee Volunteers swimming and diving program represents the University of Tennessee
located in Knoxville, Tennessee
. The Volunteers
are currently coached by John Trembley who is currently in his 23rd year as head coach. The Vols host their swim meets in the
Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center which was newly built in 2008. The Vols compete in the SEC
where they have won 10 SEC team titles, 151 individual titles and 44 relay crowns. Over the past 75 years of competetion the Vols have won 34 individual NCAA titles and 1 NCAA national title
. The Vols have also featured 782 All-Time All-America Selections up until 2009.
was hired in 1968 as head coach for the Vols swimming & diving team the team hadn't competed at the NCAA level since 1959 and had not ever won a team SEC championship. In only his second year as head coach Bussard won the school's first SEC title for men's swimming & diving and would go on to compete in the NCAA tournament. Throughout the 1970's Tennessee owned the 400-freestyle relay at the SEC Championships winning it for ten straight years. During that ten year span Tennessee earned five straight 800-freestyle relay titles and won the 400 medley crown nine out of 11 times. In 1978 Bussard would accomplish the biggest goal for any team by winning the 1978 NCAA championship
. At the start of the championship meet the Vols jumped out to a 24-point lead on the first day of competition and would continue on winning the title. The title was not only a first for a team from the Southeastern Conference
but also a first for any team in the south. When Bussard retired in 1988 he finished with a 252-20 overall record and a .926 winning percentage making him the winningest swimming and diving coach in Tennessee history. He left the school having earned NCAA Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1978, as well as SEC Coach of the Year in 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1978. In 2008 Bussard was inducted in the American Swimming Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
located in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. The Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
are currently coached by John Trembley who is currently in his 23rd year as head coach. The Vols host their swim meets in the
Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center which was newly built in 2008. The Vols compete in the SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
where they have won 10 SEC team titles, 151 individual titles and 44 relay crowns. Over the past 75 years of competetion the Vols have won 34 individual NCAA titles and 1 NCAA national title
NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
The NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships are college championship events in the USA. The event is held annually, and the NCAA hosts Swimming & Diving Championships in each of its three Divisions ....
. The Vols have also featured 782 All-Time All-America Selections up until 2009.
Decade of dominance
When Ray BussardRay Bussard
Ray Bussard was a hall-of-fame and Olympic swimming coach from the United States...
was hired in 1968 as head coach for the Vols swimming & diving team the team hadn't competed at the NCAA level since 1959 and had not ever won a team SEC championship. In only his second year as head coach Bussard won the school's first SEC title for men's swimming & diving and would go on to compete in the NCAA tournament. Throughout the 1970's Tennessee owned the 400-freestyle relay at the SEC Championships winning it for ten straight years. During that ten year span Tennessee earned five straight 800-freestyle relay titles and won the 400 medley crown nine out of 11 times. In 1978 Bussard would accomplish the biggest goal for any team by winning the 1978 NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
The NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships are college championship events in the USA. The event is held annually, and the NCAA hosts Swimming & Diving Championships in each of its three Divisions ....
. At the start of the championship meet the Vols jumped out to a 24-point lead on the first day of competition and would continue on winning the title. The title was not only a first for a team from the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
but also a first for any team in the south. When Bussard retired in 1988 he finished with a 252-20 overall record and a .926 winning percentage making him the winningest swimming and diving coach in Tennessee history. He left the school having earned NCAA Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1978, as well as SEC Coach of the Year in 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1978. In 2008 Bussard was inducted in the American Swimming Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.
Tennessee Volunteers Olympians
The University of Tennessee has had 34 Olympians represent Tennessee's swimming and diving program since the 1970's. Since that time five have earned medals including three individual gold medalists and four gold medals earned as Olympic team. The following list include all of the former and current Olympic participants.- Octavio Alesi, Venezuelan team member at 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Andrew BreeAndrew BreeAndrew Patrick Bree is a breaststroke swimmer from Helen's Bay, Co. Down Northern Ireland. He is a 2-time Irish Olympian, having swum at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics....
, Irish team member at 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics - Ray BrownRaymond Brown (swimmer)Raymond Brown is a former backstroke swimmer from Canada.Brown competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. There he finished in 18th position in the 100 m Backstroke, and in 15th place in the 200 m Backstroke.Brown currently is a financial advisor in Cleveland,...
, Canadian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics - Ricardo BusquetsRicardo BusquetsRicardo J. Busquets Healy is a former freestyle swimmer from Puerto Rico.A student of the University of Tennessee, Busquets is the only Puerto Rico swimmer to ever medal at the World Championships...
, Puerto Rican team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, 2000 Sydney Olympics, and 2004 Athens Olympics - Gabi Chereches, Romanian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and 2000 Sydney Olympics
- JR deSouza, Brazilian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- David EdgarDavid Edgar (swimmer)David Edgar is an American swimmer and Olympic champion. Edgar won seven NCAA championships while competing for the University of Tennessee and was named "Fastest Man Afloat" by Sports Illustrated magazine .He competed at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he received a gold medal in 4...
, American gold medalist at 1972 Munich Olympics - Lars Jorgensen, American team member at 1988 Seoul Olympics
- Jeremy LinnJeremy LinnJeremy Porter Linn , set an American record in the one hundred meter breaststroke category while winning the silver medal in that event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia....
, American gold medalist and silver medalist at 1996 Atlanta Olympics - Paul Machado, Brazilian team member at 2004 Athens Olympics
- Geri Mewett, Bermudian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- Jonas PerssonJonas PerssonJonas Lars Persson is an Olympic swimmer from Sweden. He swam for his homeland at the 2008 Olympics.-Biography:Persson was born 15 December 1983 in Slottstaden in Malmö, to Lars and Ingegerd Persson....
, Sweden team member at 2008 Beijing Olympics - Tripp SchwenkTripp SchwenkWilliam Douglas Schwenk is a former backstroke swimmer from the United States, who won the silver medal in the 200m Backstroke at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He also competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.-References:* *...
, American gold medalist and silver medalist at 1996 Atlanta Olympics - Kyle Smerdon, Canadian team member at 2000 Sydney Olympics
- Evan StewartEvan StewartEvan Stewart is a former Olympic diver for Zimbabwe. He competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992 ....
, Zimbabwian team member at 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and 2000 Sydney Olympics - Melvin StewartMelvin StewartMelvin Monroe Stewart is a retired American swimmer who won two gold medals and one bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Stewart graduated from Mercersburg Academy and the University of Tennessee.-Biography:Stewart was a prominent 200m butterfly swimmer of his era...
, American gold medalist and bronze medalist at 1992 Barcelona Olympics - Jevon TarantinoJevon TarantinoJevon Tarantino is an American springboard diver.He is a member of the Fort Lauderdale Diving Team and is coached by David Burgering. He was a member of the US National Team for seven years. He represented the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games...
, American team member at 2008 Beijing Olympics - Sal Vasallo, Puerto Rican team member at 1988 Seoul Olympics
- Matt VogelMatt VogelMatthew J Vogel II has been a Muppet performer for the Jim Henson Company since the 1990s. On Sesame Street, Vogel served as the assistant puppeteer for Ernie, performing either one or both hands while Steve Whitmire performed the head and vocal. Eventually, Vogel's ability to mimic the sound and...
, American gold medalist at 1976 Montreal Olympics
See also
- Tennessee VolunteersTennessee VolunteersThe Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
- Swimming at the Summer OlympicsSwimming at the Summer OlympicsSwimming has been a sport at every modern Summer Olympics. It has been open to women since 1912. Along with track & field athletics and gymnastics it is one of the most popular spectator sports at the Games and the one with the largest number of events....
- University of TennesseeUniversity of TennesseeThe University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
- Tennessee Lady Volunteers swimming and diving