July 16, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The offseason summer months have already been filled with news relating to the University of Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving program. July began with Matt Tallman taking the reins of the Irish as the team’s head coach, and Tim Lane and Chris Swenson have rounded out Tallman’s initial coaching staff for the upcoming 2014-15 campaign after officially joining the program earlier this month.
Earlier this week the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) recognized members of the Notre Dame team for their success in the classroom during the 2014 spring semester, as eight Irish student-athletes received CSCAA NCAA Division I Scholar All-America honors. Frank Dyer earned a first team Division I Scholar All-America scroll for the second straight season, while diver Joe Coumos claimed the award for the first time after completing his freshman season at Notre Dame. Dyer is the only two-time Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving recipient of first team scholar All-America status, and is one of just three first teamers, along with Coumos and Bill Bass (2012), to ever earn the distinction in program history.
To be eligible for CSCAA Scholar All-America first team consideration, a student-athlete must achieve a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher and have qualified for and competed at a national championship meet.
Six other Notre Dame student-athletes copped CSCAA Scholar All-America honorable mention citations. Bogac Ayhan, Colin Babcock, Kevin Bradley, Michael Kreft, Cameron Miller and Bertie Nel were each recognized after posting GPAs of 3.5 or higher and achieving an NCAA “B” standard time during the spring season.
As a team, Notre Dame ranked 19th in Division I with a 3.25 combined GPA during the spring semester. The Irish have finished among the top 25 teams nationally in team GPA a total of 24 times since the 1990-91 season.
The Notre Dame class of 2018 was also tabbed as the 18th best incoming recruiting class in the nation, as announced on Monday by CollegeSwimming.com. The Irish have seen their incoming freshman classes ranked among the top 25 in the NCAA by CollegeSwimming.com in each of the past six seasons.
Notre Dame is scheduled to begin the 2014-15 season when the team hosts the 50th annual Dennis Stark Relays on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. (ET) inside the Rolfs Aquatic Center.
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— Tony Jones, Media Relations Assistant