Everyone is freaking out about the possibility of college swimming going away, and rightly so. The college swimming model, already under duress, is challenged on multiple fronts by the current crisis. For one, there are schools weighing whether to come back in the fall, and without students on campus it seems unlikely there will be sports.
Also, the fall season being compromised directly effects many athletic programs bottom lines because of the presence of football. Also, programs who have fought long and hard to fundraise but still require annual fundraising to operate will have a harder time making that money.
Finally, programs with smaller facilities will face challenges to re-opening vis a vis the crowding in their lanes, as well as teams that swim outdoor vs indoor. Ok I’ll stop now, because I really want to talk about something exciting.
Long Island University (LIU) is adding Men’s Swimming. As someone who lives in the NYC area, that is tremendous news. There are very few Division 1 programs anywhere near NYC. This would put one in the heart of Brooklyn.
I know firsthand that this has been a long term project. I met in 2017 with then Women’s coach (now due to direct both programs) Matt Donovan. Even then, he was hopeful that men’s swimming could be on the way at the school.
Of course, I hear that at other places too, and frustratingly it never materializes. When I spoke to Donovan yesterday morning, the day after it was formally announced, he said that the decision was made pre-Covid, but somewhat delayed before they finally committed so that they could effectively start up in the fall.
In a climate where many coaching jobs are threatened, Donovan said the move will also allow him to add two full-time staff. Luckily for him he may find himself in a very good hiring market. Donovan indicated to me that he already has a number of candidates interested in the positions.
I plan on following up to see what we can do to help this program get off to the best start possible. We need more stories like LIU.