The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Reese to lead USA Men's Swimming at 2008 Summer Olympic Games
09.08.2006 | Men's Swimming and Diving
WASHINGTON -- The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Swimming selected University of Texas head men's swimming coach Eddie Reese as Team USA's head men's swimming coach for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The announcement was made Friday by Mark Schubert, head coach and general manager of the USA Swimming National Team.
"Eddie Reese is, without a doubt, the best coach in America, if not the world," Schubert said from the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. "No coach in recent memory has had three world record holders and three Olympic gold medalists in the same program. His job at the 2004 Olympics in Athens as the men's team head coach, and the success he's had since made him the hands-down choice to lead our men's team in Beijing." Set to begin his 29th season at Texas, Reese will serve as the Team USA men's swimming head coach for a third Olympiad after serving in the same post at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain and the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. Reese also served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 1988 (Seoul), 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney) Olympiads.
"It is really an honor to represent USA Swimming and the United States of America in any endeavor," Reese said. "USA Swimming has such high goals for every Olympic meet, and we are usually 'the show' of the Olympics as far as performances and medals go. We are very interested in keeping that going." In 2004, Reese helped the Americans win 18 medals at the Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The nine gold medals produced by Reese's men's swimming team accounted for one-fourth of the United States' 36 gold medals won during the 2004 Games.
Five of Reese's former Longhorn swimmers - Gary Hall, Jr., Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Ian Crocker and Neil Walker - won medals for Team USA in Athens. Hall won gold in the 50 freestyle, and Peirsol captured the gold in the 100- and 200-backstroke events. Peirsol, Hansen and Crocker comprised three-fourths of Team USA's gold medal-winning 4x100-medley relay team.
Reese led Team USA to 13 medals, including six golds, at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
Among the American medalists were three of Reese's former pupils at Texas - Hans Dersch, Doug Gjertsen and Shaun Jordan. Dersch won gold after swimming a leg of the 400 medley relay in the preliminary round, while Gjertsen won gold and bronze after swimming preliminary legs of the 400- and 800-freestyle relays, respectively. Jordan joined Gjertsen in the preliminary round of the 400 freestyle relay to earn a gold medal.
Reese's collegiate coaching credentials are on par with his international coaching achievements. The Longhorns have captured nine NCAA team titles, finished in the Top 10 for 27 consecutive seasons and have claimed 27 consecutive Southwest and Big 12 Conference championships. Texas placed fourth at the 2006 NCAA Championships.
