Congratulations to Ryan. Hate to lose him. Certainly will be a high profile situation there over the next few years! Mallam should be a lock for Head Coach when Bowman heads back to NBAC eventually.

This happened pretty fast, so leaves me to wonder about a replacement here at A&M. Any thoughts?

Whoever it is, I'd like it to be someone who "gets" A&M.

I know that's often met with a groan, but in the case of our men's swim team I think what it really needs is recruiting and IMHO a person who loves or gets A&M would be better at that.

Has to be an excellent recruiter.

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Whoever it is, I'd like it to be someone who "gets" A&M.

I know that's often met with a groan, but in the case of our men's swim team I think what it really needs is recruiting and IMHO a person who loves or gets A&M would be better at that.

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I disagree. The new coach needs to sell kids on SWIMMING, not A&M. And that has nothing to do with TAMU as we understand it. There is no swimming coach who "gets" A&M more than Holmes does - he swam here and surely loves this school like no other. They aren't going to come here because of the Corps or Reveille. The coaches need to convince them they will get to the NCAAs and Olympic Trials (and do it).

Mallum joins a program that will be on the upswing. Imagine if Bowman+Phelps came here?

Obviously it is all about recruiting. How did Mallum do recruiting? Doesn't seem like he made much of a difference. A&M needs someone that will make a huge impact. One swimmer and one diver at NCAAs? Is that right? Swimming recruiting is difficult for A&M because it seems that the top recruits always go to the same 5-10 schools.

Bogus -
There's more than a few of us that believe it's tough because that's how swimming goes, although I think there might be a change in that regard in years to come. Maybe. Hopefully.

Others here believe otherwise and seem to think we should be some sort of powerhouse.
Personally, I'm not sure that would happen without the perfect amount of 'stars aligning' to allow it.

My question has always been - if the cards do get dealt the right way, do we have the right coaches and staff to guide it forward from there?

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Obviously it is all about recruiting. How did Mallum do recruiting? Doesn't seem like he made much of a difference. A&M needs someone that will make a huge impact. One swimmer and one diver at NCAAs? Is that right? Swimming recruiting is difficult for A&M because it seems that the top recruits always go to the same 5-10 schools.

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I'm really not close enough to the program to know much about Mallam's specific contribution to the recruiting effort, but in my opinion, this year's freshman class was a move in the right direction. True, A&M did not get the TOP recruits, but overall, they seemed stronger than we had been getting.

I agree that it seems the top 5-10 schools get the riches each year and everyone else is left the spoils. I know there is an ebb and flow to recruiting, but from where we are, job #1 is staying on the radar screen to potential recruits. This means different things to different level recruits, but top 20 finishes are essential if we plan to make any kind of move.

Seems like the top recruiting teams have one or more things in common... Hot-Shot/Revered Coach, Great Swimming Tradition, Olympic Qualifiers, Results at NCAA's, etc. They all go hand in hand. I really hope Ryan's replacement provides a spark and comes quickly. I'm anxious to see the incoming recruit list for 2016 and look forward to the day when we won't have to wait past November to know how the recruiting is going.

I had an interesting talk with a former A&M mens team member and recent graduate. He is a proud Aggie and I have known him and his family for years.

We have a recruiting problem. A big one. If the kid doesn't already want to swim for A&M, Jay is barely interested in him. Of course he couldn't turn a kid not already leaning our way to us. I think this shows the point above about a coach that gets Texas A&M is just dumb. We need a new coach, and one that is a nationally or internationally known. It doesn't matter if he gets Aggies or not. Bultman is a LSU Tiger for crying out loud. Eddie Reese arrived at Texas when Texas was worse than SMU. And Reese is from Florida.

Men's swimming has hit rock bottom. I don't see how you stay with the guy that got you there and expect things to get better. Mallam took the first horse out of town. That ought to tell you something. Either make a new hire or shut the program down and put the money in something else that would produce better results.

I want Holmes to be successful but what about Bultmen being over both programs?

I learned recently that our top sprinter is off the team for a second failed drug test.

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Obviously it is all about recruiting. How did Mallum do recruiting? Doesn't seem like he made much of a difference. A&M needs someone that will make a huge impact. One swimmer and one diver at NCAAs? Is that right? Swimming recruiting is difficult for A&M because it seems that the top recruits always go to the same 5-10 schools.

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I don't think the assistant is the face of the program. So Mallum at best could identify talent and perhaps represent some new energy. I have danced around this for a while, but I think Jay has run his course. He is a great guy, loves A&M, and may be a good coach on deck. But I don't see how the facts don't speak for themselves. The move to the SEC should have been good for us, but we are 8th best. We are getting nowhere. The comparison to Missouri is exactly apples to apples. They are clearly better than us and have been moving up for several years. We barely beat them at Big 12s and now look at where we are?

Re: Bultman. I don't think that is the answer. Very few good D1 teams have a single HC for both programs. USC with Salo comes to mind. But I think Bultman doesn't have the capacity to manage a roster of 70+ swimmers. He would need a top assistant to do the majority of mens coaching - and that is essentially a head coach. That coach cannot be Holmes.

Alabama and Georgia have one head coach for the swimming programs but they are staffed up. I think A&M should at least consider it. The main question is would they spend the money required to win or is the AD happy with the status quo?

Mallam stayed two years with the program. barely enough time to get his feet wet, then was off to greener pastures. I don't understand the logic of having to find an assistant to "save" the program. Either address the problem at the top or get out of the business. Men's swimming seems to be a likely a candidate for the chopping block at a number on NCAA institutions. budgeting funds for a program that is circling the drain is just a total waste of resources that could be better used in other athletic endeavors. BTW, 59 division I institutions have a women's swimming program but don't field a men's team. So it is not uncommon to ditch the men's program altogether. No need of throwing good money after bad just for the sake of having a program. Spend it on something we can be competitive.

The assistant can't save the program.

There is no reason A&M can't be a top 20 program. The SEC is an outstanding conference for swimming. It produces many Olympians. The SEC's power schools all have a mens swimming program and it would be ridiculous for A&M to not field a team. Only the two Mississippi schools and Vanderbilt don't have mens teams.

Steve Bultman built the womens program into an elite one the old fashioned way - steady improvement. He is an effective recruiter and an outstanding coach. He wasn't a big name when he came to A&M.

Our dormant track program turned overnight when Pat Henry was hired.

Can't A&M find another $100-$200K to attract an elite coach?

Ditching the Men's program to save money for other programs is a joke. This isn't Florida Atlantic.

Hire an elite coach (Arizona State did it.). Let him build ($$$$) a nationally reputable staff. Recruit!

Most of those programs that cut their teams did so because of their inadequate facilities, lack of resources, and honest commitment to swimming and diving. A&M AD needs to back the program 100%. No excuses.

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Ditching the Men's program to save money for other programs is a joke. This isn't Florida Atlantic.

Hire an elite coach (Arizona State did it.). Let him build ($$) a nationally reputable staff. Recruit!

Most of those programs that cut their teams did so because of their inadequate facilities, lack of resources, and honest commitment to swimming and diving. A&M AD needs to back the program 100%. No excuses.

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Agree completely. We need zero capital funds. We have a top 10 facility. Just need someone to drive the program forward.

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honest commitment to swimming and diving. A&M AD needs to back the program 100%. No excuses.

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Bingo. The ones that matter most either give a blind eye, and/or are completely and totally disinterested or put forth the minimum effort possible. We have had a TOP FIVE women's program for several years now. Outside of track & field, it is our best NCAA sport, year-in, year-out. How many outside of this board realize that? Track is getting a massive outdoor track to go with it's already spectacular indoor one (and they've certainly earned it based on production for sure but the sport is just as much a money pit as swimming, if not far more so). Tens of millions have and will be spent on track. Women's swimming has done it without the big name hire or the money/support!

Also, completely agree with the drop a couple $100,000 on a name coach (if/when the person in charge thinks thing are going the wrong direction on the men's side). That would improve things quickest and we sure as hell do it in practically every other non-revenue sport.

I'm not saying drop track money on swimming but throw them a bone at least. The track record on the women's side has been nothing short of remarkable given what they had to work with when Bultman started. End rant.

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Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN 6m6 minutes ago
SEC will distribute $31.07M per school in revenue, sources told @ESPN. League made record $455M past year

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Is this money spread out?

I'm sure it is. Half to the offense and half to the defense.

Mallam's replacement

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Mallam's replacement

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Looks\Sounds legit.

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Alabama and Georgia have one head coach for the swimming programs but they are staffed up. I think A&M should at least consider it. The main question is would they spend the money required to win or is the AD happy with the status quo?

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Auburn does, too.

In Georgia's case, it hasn't worked great in that they've never been able to get the men's program close to on par with the women's program (which is certainly elite).

It has worked for Auburn- I think they were the first team to win a men's and women's championship in the same year under the same head coach.

I definitely think it is something worth considering, although you'd have to get Bultman on board if it were to happen before he left- which he may or may not be willing to do., I don't know.