Getty Images Sports | Otto Greule Jr
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, has plans to coach at Arizona State University during the 2016-2017 season following his retirement. The new gig will follow the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
The 30-year-old swimmer will be a volunteer assistant, and originally moved to Arizona to train with current head coach Bob Bowman.
Bowman left his last job with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club to help transform ASU into a vigorous swim competitor, and according to AZ Central, “has been an unqualified success in the first four months.”
In retrospect, the fact that Phelps has since committed to the team was inevitable.
His first comeback swim meet was at a 2014 Grand Prix in Mesa. He had a 45-day rehab stint at The Meadows treatment center in Wickenburg, and his first meet back from a six-month USA Swimming suspension again was in Mesa.
It was at that Arena Grand Prix meet in April that Bowman first brought up the idea of taking the ASU job.
“I said, ‘If you go, I’ll go,’ ” Phelps told Bowman with one request that trainer Keenan Robinson also make the move from North Baltimore Aquatics. “I didn’t want to swim for anybody else to finish my career, and I don’t want to work with another trainer. Without the help of those two, I wouldn’t be able to be where I am today.”
The two have worked together for roughly two decades, in which Phelps won 22 metals, including 18 gold, under Bowman’s mentorship.
While ASU has a lot to offer on its own – like a really sexy Undie Run and killer Halloween parties – Phelps’ presence is guaranteed to recruit more students to the university. Is there anyone out there who wouldn’t want hands-on training experience with an Olympic gold medalist?
That’s what we thought.
