Athens, Georgia – Tom Cousins Swimming and Diving Head Coach after working as a student athlete and coach at the University of Georgia for over 50 years Jack Bowery He announced his retirement on Wednesday afternoon.
“This is a bittersweet moment in the history of Georgia athletics. Jack has been the basis for the unparalleled success of our men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs for half a century,” said J. Reed Parker Athletics. Director Josh Brooks Said. “I miss him on the pool deck, but we know that Jack is always part of our athletics family. I’m with him in different positions as a graduate involved. I’m looking forward to working. A stage in his life. “
Bauerle has been the head coach of the women’s swimming and diving team since 1979 and the head coach of the men’s team since 1983, comparable to former LSU gymnastics coach DD Blow for the longest tenure in Southeastern Conference history. To do.He is already 35 years old and has the longest life in Georgia’s athletics history.th In the 2013-14 season, we commended the legendary men’s tennis coach Dan Magill.
“I am very honored to work with you. Jack Bowery Since I led the UGA Honors Program in 1999 and many of Jack’s student athletes were Honors and Foundation Fellows, President Jere W. Morehead of the University of Georgia said: He has won multiple national championships, teaching and coaching many US and NCAA graduate students. The record of his coaching in Georgia and the Olympics is unparalleled in the history of our movement, and on behalf of the entire community at the University of Georgia, we thank him for his great contribution to our institution. increase. ”
While overseeing the Georgia program, Bauerle produced seven NCAAs and 12 SEC crowns on a women’s team, with 62 different male and female team members winning 175 national championships. At the NCAA, his team posted 48 Top 10 finishes, including 21 Top 5 finishes in the 22 seasons of the Women’s Team from 1995 to 2017. The SEC has 18 coaches of the year (16 for women and 2 for men) and 7 for women’s national coaches of the year.
Bauerle led the Bulldog woman to a 342 dual-meet victory and joined Tom Groden of Boston University as the only member of the 300-win club. Counting his 253 wins as a Bulldogs men’s coach, Bauerle ends with an overall record of 595-139-4. This number is ranked first among active NCAA coaches, always first in the SEC, and second in the all-time list. He also made history by leading the Lady Bull Dog to 103 consecutive NCAA record victories at the Gabriel Senna Tatrium from November 8, 1995 to January 5, 2017.
In 2008, when Bauerle was selected to coach the US Women’s Team at the Olympic Games, he reached the pinnacle of coaching success and led American women to 14 medals. This is the most common in any country. He has coached Team USA in each of the last six Olympics, including Beijing, as a female assistant in 2000, a male assistant in 2016 and 2020, and an individual coach in 2004 and 2012. rice field.
Under the leadership of Bauerle, Georgia produced 87 Olympic athletes representing 20 countries and won 38 medals in the process. Georgian swimmers have won 15 gold medals, including Sheila Taormina, a 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Kristy Kowal became the first individual medalist to win silver in a 200m breaststroke. Meanwhile, in 2012, Allison Schmitt became the program’s first personal gold medalist when he won the 200m freestyle in London.
In Tokyo, a delegation of 10 bulldogs joined Baure at the Olympic Aquatics Center. Starting to run the seven medals won at the tournament, Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland led the 1-2 sweep of the 400m IM and gave Georgia the first men’s gold medalist at each event. Schmidt, who participated in the fourth game, won two medals, bringing his total career to ten. Meanwhile, Hali Flickinger won the bronze medal in the 400m IM and 200m butterfly. In addition, Andrew Wilson won the gold medal in the 4x100m medley relay and Natalie Hinds won the silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay, so two members of the Bauerle Pro Group won the medal.
Other than water, Baure’s team was also excellent in the classroom and community. The three swimmers, Kowal, Lisa Cool and Kim Black were named NCAA Women of the Year and won the most winners in one exercise program. With 39 NCAA Graduate Scholarship Winners, only 6 schools have more winners than Georgia’s swimming and diving programs. In addition, the program produced 41 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and 416 CSCAAScholar All-Americans.
Bauerle has been with Georgia for over 50 years, including his tenure as head coach, assistant coach and student athlete. During his athletic career, he was a four-year letter winner and two-time team captain, graduating in 1975 with a 200-yard butterfly and a 1,650-yard freestyle English degree and program record. did. After graduating, the men’s team served as an assistant for three seasons and the women for one season before being appointed as the women’s head coach in 1979 and adding the men’s title in 1983.
Georgia has been one of the top programs in the United States this past season, with boys 8th and girls 15th in the NCAA Championship.th, Both exceed the expected placement.Freshman Matthew Sates And sophomore Jake Magahei Recorded 1-2 finishes in 500 freestyles and both swimmers joined teammates Luca Wooland When Zack Hills He finished second in the 800 Freestyle Relay, set a SEC record, and achieved the top finish of the NCAA relay in the program history. Arland won the top three in all three individual events, leading the 400 medley relay and setting an American record with 100 backstrokes. Early in the SEC Championship, Urlando won three gold medals at Knoxville and was named the SEC Commissioner’s Trophy and the Swimmer of the Meet.
At the women’s NCAA competition Zoe Hartman When Dakota Luther Freshmen finish the top 4 at the top event Abbey McCullough I was ranked 5th in miles. Bauerle also provided the opening speech for the fall 2021 ceremony at Sanford Stadium.
Apart from his coaching duties, Bauerle has been involved in the efforts of multiple organizations and communities. He has been appointed to the Sphinx Society, the Blue Key Honor Society, and the Pikappapi Honor Society. He also served on the board of the Franklin University of Arts and Sciences.
Georgia Athletics celebrates Bauerle’s illustrious career on the day determined in the fall of 2022.
Statement from Tom Cousins Head Coach Jack Bowery
It’s time.
It’s time for me, for my family, and for my team.
First of all, I would like to thank my wife Lee Ann and my sons John, Magill and Duke for their many years of dedication and sacrifice. Lee Ann is not only a great source of support, but also my greatest motivation. Swimming sports are performed all year round and can sometimes consume everything, but they have always understood and supported.
Thanks to Athletic Director Jere Morehead President Josh BrooksAnd our sports facilitator Darris Griffin For their support. President Morehead and Darris have been important in helping us navigate over the past few years. One of my few regrets with Josh is that we wish we had more time to work with. We would also like to thank Vince Dooley and Liz Murphey for giving me a chance in 1979 and entrusting me with this program. Working and knowing for Douri is one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life and I value friendship.
Thanks to the student athletes for everything they have given me over the years. They really motivated me as much as I motivated them. In my time, I coached 87 Olympic athletes from 20 countries and was able to bring back 40 medals in the process. Last year’s program in Tokyo was another great success for our program. In addition to its success at the Olympics, 62 different athletes have won 175 NCAA Championships and hundreds of national college honors. I have a lot of great kids and I miss a lot of kids every day.
But our achievements have come not only in the water, but also in the classroom. Over 43 seasons, our program has produced three NCAA Woman of the Year winners and 39 NCAA graduate scholarship recipients, beyond most athletic departments across the country. Those statistics are what I am most proud of.
I thank my coach for being happy to work with me for years. I miss the deck conversation, humor and bunter at 5:30 am. Every morning before the world awoke, we definitely solved many problems. I am grateful for their dedication and support.I especially want to thank you Harvey Humphreys Serve me for 39 years. I look forward to seeing my athlete’s coaching career unfold here both here in Georgia and in the world of swimming.
In addition, I would especially like to thank my colleagues and mentors for helping me become a better coach in my career. Special thanks for the friendship and guidance of Bob Bowman, Frank Bush, Eddie Reese, Dick Shoalberg and Jon Urbanchek.
Finally, we would like to thank the myriad members of our support staff for giving us the time and talent to make our program the best possible. In particular, I would like to thank the Ramsey Center employees for maintaining world-class facilities for athletes and universities.
I don’t know what to do right away, but I’m going to do something. When I left Philadelphia for Athens in 1970, I fell in love with Georgia, but I couldn’t predict the good luck I would encounter and the wonderful people I would meet. I miss being on the deck every day, but I’m forever proud of everything I’ve achieved at the University of Georgia.
