Yesterday, Athletic Director Bill Martin announced that Bob
Bowman will take over as the new Michigan men’s swimming
coach. Bowman, who replaces the retiring Jon Urbanchek, has coached
at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club since 1996. He served as the
club’s High Performance Coach for all but his first three
years there. He is currently the coach of Michael Phelps, an
18-year-old member of the U.S. National Team who is considered by
many to be the country’s top swimmer. In 2000, Phelps —
the current world record holder in four men’s events —
became the youngest male to compete in the Olympics in nearly 70
years at age 15. Previously, Bowman coached former Michigan swimmer
Eric Wunderlich, a 1996 Olympian.
Bowman, who swam for Florida State until 1987, has won USA
Swimming Coach of the Year honors twice, most recently last year.
He is currently a finalist for the USOC National Coach of the Year
award. Bowman will formally take over as the program’s eighth
coach in September, following the conclusion of the Olympic Games
in Athens. Until that time, Urbanchek will prepare Michigan
swimmers for the Olympic trials in July and the subsequent
Olympics. In 22 years at Michigan, Urbanchek has captured 13 Big
Ten titles, as well as the 1995 NCAA Championship.